Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And for confirmation hereof he allegeth, that God made his covenant with the people in Mount Horeb, the better to bring them to fear, and to obey him for ever. For if GOD should but only exact his dew of us: yet were we sufficiently bound to cleave to him, and to stick to his commandments. But now seeing it hath pleased him of his infinite goodness, to come as it were to a common treaty, and to bind himself interchangeably unto us, whereas there is no cause why he should be bound: so as he covenanteth to be our father and Saviour, and to receive us into his flock, to be his inheritance, that we may live under his protection, and he setteth the everlasting life before us: Seeing he doth all these things for us, ought not our hearts to yield, though they were of stone? Seeing that the creatures do see that the living God abaseth himself so far, as to vouchsafe to enter into treaty with them, as if he should say, Go to, let us see at what point we be: in deed there is an infinite distance betwixt you and me, I might command you what I think good without having any further to do with you, neither are you worthy to come nigh me, or to have any acquaintance with him that can command you what he listeth, without making any other protestation than only this, This will I have ye do, this is my mind: & yet for all that I forbear mine own right, I offer my self to you to be your leader & saviour, I am willing to govern you, & you shall be as my little household, I will be your king ⟨p. 180⟩if you will be contented with my word: and besides this, think not that my making of my covenant with your fathers, was of purpose to gain any thing at your hands: for I have no need nor want of any thing, and if I had, what could ye do for me? but I seek your welfare and your salvation: and therefore I am here ready to enter into covenant with you, and to bind my self to you for mine own part: Seeing that the living God stoopeth so low, I pray you §10must we not needs be too too unthankful, if we yield not to humble our selves under him, and forbear all pride and stateliness? So then, it is not without cause that Moses speaketh here, of the covenant that God made with his people, to the end that his goodness and grace might be chiefly known.

And for confirmation hereof hee alledgeth, that God made his couenaunt with the people in Moūs Horeb, the better to bring them to feare, and to obey him for euer. For if GOD should but onely exact his dew of vs: yet were wee sufficiently bound to cleaue to him, and to stick to his commaundements. But nowe seeing it hath pleased him of his infinite goodnesse, to come as it were to a common treatie, and to binde himselfe interchaungeably vnto vs, whereas there is no cause why hee shoulde bee bounde: so as hee couenanteth to be our father and Sauiour, and to receiue vs into his flocke, to be his inheritance, that wee may liue vnder his protection, and hee setteth the euerlasting lyfe before vs: Seeing hee doth all these thinges for vs, ought not our heartes to yeeld, though they were of stone? Seeing that the creatures doe see that the liuing God abaceth himself so farre, as to vouchsafe to enter into treatie with thē, as if he should say, Go to, let vs see at what poynt wee bee: in deede there is an infinite distance betwixt you and mee, I might commaunde you what I thinke good without hauing any further to do with you, neither are you worthie to come ny me, or to haue any acquaintāce wt him yt can cōmaund you what he listeth, without making any other protestation than only this, This will I haue ye do, this is my minde: & yet for all yt I forbeare mine own right, I offer my self to you to be your leader & sauiour, I am willing to gouern you, & you shalbe as my litle housholde, I wil be your king