Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And as I said, when we once have this free love of God, we must go no further. For we see what hath happened to all such as have not held themselves in such soberness. And surely when men are inquisitive why God loveth some more than othersome: it proceedeth of a certain pride and spite, in that they cannot abide that the whole praise of their salvation should rest in god alone. Men seek always to challenge somewhat to themselves. And therefore when it is told them that God calleth those whom he hath chosen, and that he chooseth whom he listeth of his own free goodness: they will needs fall to scanning, how so? Why doeth God prefer one before another? When they debate after that manner, it is not a simple inquisitiveness, but a pride as I said, because they would fain be esteemed and find somewhat in themselves wherewith to deface Gods mere mercy: And therefore it is good justice that Satan should afterward blear their eyes, & set many fancies before them. And that is the very cause that maketh them to go always seeking, that God chooseth those whom he foresaw to be such as would become worthy of his grace. Again, such as dare not allege altogether their own deservings, do say that they attain to faith because God foresaw that they would be faithful, and therefore reserved them to himself. So then, by that means faith should proceed of mens works. But such men do in deed show that they be as it were blockish, when they make such conclusions: and yet notwithstanding a great part of the world standeth upon that point, and is still blinded therewith. But as for us let us learn that whensoever Gods love is set afore us we must wholly hold us to it and rest upon it, so as it must suffice us that God is righteous, and yet notwithstanding not bound to any person, but at his free liberty to choose whom he listeth, because he receiveth them to mercy. For it is to the same purpose that he saith to Moses,¹ as S. Paul allegeth, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have pity on whom I have pity. As if he should say, let not men fall to controlling of me in this case, nor be so malapert as to ask why I show not mercy to all men: or why all are not dealt with alike, or why I choose one and leave another. Let them not dispute so with me:

And as I saide, when wee once haue this free loue of God, we must goe no further. For we see what hath happened to all such as haue not held themselues in such sobernesse. And surely when men are inquisitiue why God loueth some more than othersome: it proceedeth of a certain pride and spyte, in that they cannot abide that the whole praise of their saluation should rest in god alone. Men seeke alwayes to challenge somwhat to themselues. And therefore when it is tolde them that God calleth those whom he hath chosen, and that he chooseth whom he listeth of his owne free goodnes: they will needs fall to scanning, how so? Why doeth God prefer one before another? When they debate after that maner, it is not a simple inquisitiuenes, but a pride as I said, because they would faine be esteemed and finde somewhat in themselues wherewith to deface Gods meere mercie: And therfore it is good iustice that Satan shoulde afterwarde bleare their eyes, & set many fancies before them. And that is the verie cause that maketh them to goe alwayes seeking, that God choseth those whom he foresawe to be such as would become worthie of his grace. Againe, such as dare not alledge altogether their owne deseruings, doe say that they attaine to faith because God foresawe that they would be faithfull, and therefore reserued them to himselfe. So then, by that meanes faith shoulde proceede of mens workes. But such men doe in deede shewe that they be as it were blockish, when they make such conclusions: and yetnotwithstanding a great part of the worlde standeth vpon that point, and is still blinded therewith. But as for vs let vs learne that whensoeuer Gods loue is set afore vs we must wholly hold vs to it and rest vpon it, so as it must suffice vs that God is righteous, and yet notwithstanding not bounde to any person, but at his free libertie to choose whom he listeth, because hee receiueth them to mercie. For it is to the same purpose that he saith to Moses,