Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now then,¹ behold, God curseth all such as shall have transgressed his Law in any point. Cursed be he that honoureth not his Father and mother: Cursed be he that stealeth: Cursed be he that committeth adultery: Cursed be he that performeth not all things contained in the Law. And here specially, there is a threat upon all such as shall have abused Gods name. Hereby he showeth us that although he will have us to keep his Law in all points, and to direct our lives thereby: yet notwithstanding he reserveth still this point to himself, and will have his name to be privileged. Now if this threatening slip away for all that, so as it sinketh not in our minds, nor restraineth us at all from presuming to dally so with God and his Majesty: must it nor needs be said (as I have touched already) that the devil hath carried us away, and that we be bereft of all wit and reason? Yes: but if this threat do not waken us now: we must find in the end that Gods publishing of it was no false alarm. And therefore let us learn to be touched to the quick, sith we see that our Lord setteth himself so expressly against us, and showeth himself to be an adversary to all such as abuse his name. For what cost is it to us to abstain, as well from all false oaths, as from all unadvised oaths, and specially from all blasphemies? The greatest excuse that they have which would lessen their fault, is that they cannot refrain because they be inured to it by custom. Yea, but if every man would set before his eyes that God is his Judge: surely he might soon forget his swearing: and when the name of GOD were to be used, men would not do it but with great singleness of heart. In so much that if men went to law, they should have as it were Gods Majesty present there, so as he might be beheld sitting there as Judge when he were called to witness, and men should not use his name but in such wise,² as Saint Paul speaks of, where he sayeth that we must not take Gods name but in all holiness.

Nowe then,¹ beholde, God curseth all such as shall haue transgressed his Lawe in any point. Cursed bee he that honoureth not his Father and mother: Cursed bee he that stealeth: Cursed bee he that committeth adulterie: Cursed bee he that perfourmeth not all things contained in the Lawe. And here specially, there is a threate vppon all such as shal haue abused Gods name. Hereby he sheweth vs that although he will haue vs to keepe his Lawe in all pointes, and to direct our liues thereby: yet notwithstanding he reserueth still this point to himselfe, and will haue his name to bee priuiledged. Nowe if this threatening slippe away for all that, so as it sinketh not in our mindes, nor restraineth vs at all from presuming to dally so with God and his Maiestie: must it nor needes bee said (as I haue touched alreadie) that the diuell hath carryed vs away, and that wee bee bereft of all witte and reason? Yes: but if this threate doe not waken vs nowe: wee must finde in the ende that Gods publishing of it was no false alarum. And therefore let vs learne to bee touched to the quicke, sith wee see that our Lorde setteth himselfe so expressely against vs, and sheweth himselfe to bee an aduersarie to all such as abuse his name. For what cost is it to vs to abstaine, as well from all false othes, as from all vnaduised othes, and specially from all blasphemies? The greatest excuse that they haue which would lessen their fault, is that they cannot refraine bicause they bee inured to it by custome. Yea, but if euerye man woulde set before his eyes that God is his Iudge: surely he might soon forget his swearing: and when the name of GOD were to bee vsed, men would not doe it but with great singlenesse of heart. In so much that if men went to lawe, they shoulde haue as it were Gods Maiestie present there, so as hee myght bee behelde sitting there as Iudge when he were called to witnesse, and men shoulde not vse his name but in such wise,