Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But yet herewithall we must resort to that which I have touched afore namely that it must be kept and throughly followed. for if we do no more but only like well of Gods word, & yield record unto it that it is good,¹ true, and holy: God shall be greatly beholden to us for it. What is to be done then? Behold, God will try whether he be our master or no. For the thing whereby to rule our life, is not only to inquire what he saith unto us: but also to give over our own desires and affections, and to desire nothing else but to please him, and to be governed by him and by his righteousness. When we be at that point, then is it a good proof that God hath such authority over us as he deserveth. But until we be come to that point, we shall never know what it is to have profited in the doctrine. Therefore let this word Do or Perform run always in their minds which hear the word of God. How now, let them say? Behold God hath granted us the grace to be taught. And to what end? not to the end we should but only hearken to it to say, yea marry, it is well said, this is good: but to the end that our whole life should be reformed, and that forasmuch as it is a good and sure rule, we should no more go astray as we have done, and as the ignorant wretches do, which are wandered out of the right way, and have not the teaching that we have, whom the doctrine ought so to mortify, as God may reign over us, and we be subject unto him. Thus ye see in effect what Moses meant by protesting to the people in this preface, that his setting forth of the Law unto them, was not to the intent they should but only hear it and have their ears beaten with it: but to the intent they should also embrace it and keep it.

But yet herewithall we must resorte to that which I haue touched afore namely that it must be kept and throughly followed. for if we doe no more but onely lyke well of Gods worde, & yelde recorde vnto it that it is good,¹ true, and holy: God shall be greately beholden to vs for it. What is to be done then? Behold, God will try whether he be our maister or no. For the thing whereby to rule our lyfe, is not onely to inquire what he sayth vnto vs: but also to giue ouer our owne desires and affections, and to desire nothing else but to please him, and to bee gouerned by him and by his righteousnesse. When wee be at that poynt, then is it a good proofe that God hath such authoritie ouer vs as hee deserueth. But vntill wee bee come to that poynt, we shall neuer knowe what it is to haue profited in the doctrine. Therefore let this worde Doe or Performe runne alwayes in their minds which heare the worde of God. How now, let them say? Beholde God hath graunted vs the grace to be taught. And to what ende? not to the ende wee should but only hearken to it to say, yea mary, yt is well sayd, this is good: but to the end that our whole lyfe should bee reformed, and that forasmuch as it is a good and sure rule, wee shoulde no more goe astray as wee haue done, and as the ignorant wretches do, which are wandered out of the right way, and haue not the teaching that wee haue, whome the doctrine ought so to mortify, as God may reigne ouer vs, and wee be subiect vnto him. Thus yee see in effect what Moses meant by protesting to the people in this preface, that his setting foorth of the Lawe vnto thē, was not to the intent they should but only heare it and haue their eares beaten with it: but to the intent they should also imbrace it and keepe it.