Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now herewithall, to the intent to encourage the people, Moses telleth them that they shall not travel in vain. Go (saith he) and possess the land: and that is one point more well worth the noting. For if we should bestow our labour, & not know that we shall fare ever the better by serving God: we would become lazy, and our §60hearts would fail us every minute of an hour. But when we be sure that we run not in vain, and that God will reach us his hand, so as we need not to fear but our matters shall come to pass, though Satan strain himself to hinder us: when we stand upon such a sure ground that our Lord will put us in possession of the things that he offereth us: it giveth us an invincible courage and constancy to outstand all temptations.

Now herewithall, to the intent to incourage the people, Moses telleth them that they shal not trauel in vaine. Go (sayth he) and possesse the land: and that is one poynt more well worth the noting. For if we should bestowe our labor, & not knowe that we shal fare euer the better by seruing God: we would become lazie, and our §60hartes would fayle vs euey minute of an houre. But when we be sure that we runne not in vaine, and that God will reach vs his hand, so as wee neede not to feare but our matters shall come to passe, though Satan streyne himselfe to hinder vs: when we stand vpon such a sure ground that our Lord will put vs in possession of the thinges that he offereth vs: it giueth vs an inuincible courage and constancie to outstand all temptations.

And therefore let us weigh well these words where he sayeth, Get ye hence and possess the land. God sayeth not singly to his faithful ones, go your ways, see what ye can do, try your strength, and in the mean while leaveth them at all adventures: no, but he sayeth to them, Go to possess. As if he should say, do but only apply your selves to serve me, and let me alone with the doing of it. for I will work after such a sort, as he that endeavoureth to follow me shall not lose his labour, he shall not take pain in vain. I will make all his doings to prosper. That then is the thing that we have to mark upon this strain. And therefore what excuse is there for us, if we follow not our Lord whither soever he call us, considering that this voice, Go and possess, ought to sound in our ears? And if it were spoken for the land of Canaan, much more shall it be avowed and verified still at this day. Wherefore whensoever we be slow to obey God, loath to part from this world, or astonished with distresses: let us enter into such thoughts as these: Alas, is it possible for to me to come unto God? how may I overcome so many and so great distresses? It far surmounteth all my power and strength. When we be so encumbered and brought in perplexity and doubt, let us bethink our selves thus: well, seeing it hath pleased God to show himself to me, it is good reason that I should be contented with the assurance that he hath given me, and with the experience of his goodness which he hath made me to feel. And so must we pass on forward still, notwithstanding all the temptations of distrust that may come in our heads.