Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And by the way let us call to mind the thing that I have touched already, that is to wit, that Abraham was alone as the Prophet Isaiah upbraideth the Jews.¹ The trueth is that he exhorteth them to be of good cheer, though they be scattered abroad and cast down. Have an eye (saith he) to the quarry whence ye were taken, and unto your original. What was it? was it a great and infinite people? No: It was a silly old man all alone without child or issue. Behold, your mother Sarah was barren all the time of her life, and her age was a further let that she might not conceive: and yet hath God taken ye out of that quarry, that is to say, of one man alone. Why then should ye be afraid though ye were utterly consumed▪ But yet for all this, he upbraideth them with their unthankfulness, because they trusted still in their own greatness, and if there were any likelihood at all, by and by it puffed them up. And therefore let us learn by this text, first that Gods choosing of our forefathers was not for any worthiness or nobility in them selves: but because he had pity on them, which pitying importeth that they were in wretched case, and had been utterly forlorn, if God had not gathered them into the hope which they could never have conceived of themselves. Mark that for one point.

And by the way let vs call to minde the thing that I haue touched alreadie, that is to wit, that Abraham was alone as the Prophet Esaie vpbraideth the Iewes.¹ The trueth is that he exhorteth them to be of good cheere, though they be scattered abrode and cast downe. Haue an eye (saith he) to the quarrie whence ye were taken, and vnto your originall. What was it? was it a great and infinite people? No: It was a sillie olde man al alone without child or issue. Behold, your mother Sara was barren all the time of her life, and her age was a further let that she might not conceiue: and yet hath God taken ye out of that quarrie, that is to say, of one man alone. Why then should yee bee afraide though yee were vtterly consumed▪ But yet for all this, hee vpbraideth them with their vnthankfulnesse, because they trusted still in their owne greatnesse, and if there were any likelihood at all, by and by it puffed them vp. And therefore let vs learne by this text, first that Gods choosing of our forefathers was not for any worthinesse or nobilitie in them selues: but because he had pitie on them, which pitying importeth that they were in wretched case, and had beene vtterly forlorne, if God had not gathered them into the hope which they coulde neuer haue conceiued of themselues. Marke that for one point.