Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But now let us come to the mercy that God granteth, and to the punishment that he extendeth. His blessing of the faithful folks children, is not in riches, in health, and in all other such things, or in making them to prosper to the world ward: Those are not the greatest blessings which God granteth: that is not the end which he beginneth at: but rather the mercy that he showeth them, is that he governeth them by his holy spirit, that he giveth them the badge of his adopted children, and that he correcteth them and purgeth them from their sins, to fashion them again after his own image. Ye see then that the mercy which God extendeth towards the children of the faithful, is that he suffereth them not to abide in their own corruption and naughtiness, but reformeth and ruleth them by his holy spirit. This done, he proceedeth yet further, and maketh them to prosper, even in this world, until the full measure of his mercy be heaped upon them, that is to wit, till he have taken them up into his heavenly kingdom, and there given them everlasting life.

But nowe let vs come to the mercie that God graunteth, and to the punishment that hee extendeth. His blessing of the faithfull folkes children, is not in riches, in health, and in all other such thinges, or in making them to prosper to the worlde warde: Those are not the greatest blessings which God graunteth: that is not the ende which hee beginneth at: but rather the mercie that hee sheweth them, is that hee gouerneth them by his holy spirite, that hee giueth them the badge of his adopted children, and that he correcteth them and purgeth them from their sinnes, to fashion them againe after his owne image. Yee see then that the mercie which God extendeth towardes the children of the faithfull, is that hee suffereth them not to abide in their owne corruption and naughtinesse, but reformeth and ruleth them by his holy spirite. This done, hee proceedeth yet further, and maketh them to prosper, euen in this worlde, vntill the full measure of his mercie bee heaped vppon them, that is to wit, till he haue taken them vp into his heauenly kingdome, and there giuen them euerlasting life.

On the contrary part, whereas he punisheth the sins of the fathers upon the children: it is as much to say, as he letteth their offspring alone in the same plight that they be in. There is a wicked man, there is a despiser of GOD, there is an hypocrite, there is an unbeliever: well may he have children, but God careth not for them (as ye would say) and taketh them as strangers: and forasmuch as he acknowledgeth them not to be of the number of his, he vouchsafeth not to show himself father like towards them, but letteth them run at rovers, so as Satan must needs possess them. And when they be so destitute of Gods spirit, what can betide them but utter mischief, so as they must provoke him to wrath more and more? Now then doeth our Lord punish them without cause? Can they say that they be guiltless? No: for there is fault enough in them beforehand. We see then much better, that the thing which God hath spoken by Ezekiel is true: that is to wit, that the party which hath sinned shall receive his own hire as he deserveth: and that the guiltless shall not be punished for the guilty and for the offenders sake. Nevertheless we see also, that his saying that he will punish the sin of the fathers upon their children, is not without cause. For why? It is in him to withhold his grace from the children of the wicked and faithless, or of the despisers of his