Sermons upon Deuteronomy

True it is that the thing cannot be said to us nowadays, which Moses telleth the people of Israel here: for Gods showing of himself to us, or his stretching out of his arm to deliver us, hath not bin of any late continuance of time, as was his speaking to that people from the middest §60of the fire: but yet nevertheless the same exhortation belongeth unto us also. And why? For Gods choosing of the people of Israel to himself, and his declaring of his wonderful power for the recovery of them, was not to the end that they should know him and worship him as the true God, by the space of a hundred years only: but to the intent that the remembrance of the same redemption should continue to the worlds end. Then let us mark well that Gods delivering of the children of Abraham from the bondage of Egypt, was to the end that we also in these days should take him for our true GOD which hath all power in his hand, which disposeth of his creatures, and which created the world and governeth it. Sith it is so, although our eyes have not seen the miracles that are rehearsed here: yet ought we to make our profit of them, and to be edified by them, so as we may be sure that we have not an uncertain GOD, nor a religion forged at all adventure, or at the pleasure of men: but that it is the very true GOD, who hath given so good proof of his power at once already, as we have no cause to doubt of him, or to think his majesty darksome, or to stand scanning whether he ought to have superiority and preeminence or no. For he hath showed that all the world is his, and that all that ever was worshipped at that time in the world, was but idols. Thus ye see how this text is to be taken that we may apply it to our own profit. For it is not enough for us to know what Moses meant in speaking to the people of Israel: but we must understand likewise, whereto the same doctrine serveth us at this day, so as we may receive instruction by it.

True it is that the thing cannot bee sayd to vs nowadayes, which Moses telleth the people of Israel here: for Gods shewing of himselfe to vs, or his stretching out of his arme to deliuer vs, hath not bin of any late continuance of time, as was his speaking to that people from the middest §60of the fire: but yet neuerthelesse the same exhortation belongeth vnto vs also. And why? For Gods choosing of the people of Israell to himselfe, and his declaring of his wonderfull power for the recouerie of them, was not to the end that they shoulde knowe him and worship him as the true God, by the space of a hundred yeeres onely: but to the intent that the rememberaunce of the same redemption shoulde continue to the worlds end. Then let vs marke well that Gods deliuering of the children of Abraham from the bondage of Egypt, was to the ende that wee also in these dayes shoulde take him for our true GOD which hath all power in his hand, which disposeth of his creatures, and which created the worlde and gouerneth it. Sith it is so, although our eyes haue not seene the miracles that are rehearsed here: yet ought wee to make our profite of them, and to bee edifyed by them, so as wee may bee sure that wee haue not an vncertaine GOD, nor a religion forged at aladuenture, or at the pleasure of men: but that it is the very true GOD, who hath giuen so good proofe of his power at once already, as wee haue no cause to doubt of him, or to think his maiestie darksome, or to stand skanning whether hee ought to haue superioritie and preheminence or no. For hee hath shewed that all the world is his, and that all that euer was worshipped at that time in the world, was but idols. Thus yee see how this text is to bee taken that wee may apply it to our owne profite. For it is not enough for vs to knowe what Moses ment in speaking to the people of Israell: but we must vnderstand lykewise, whereto the same doctrine serueth vs at this day, so as we may receiue instruction by it.