Sermons upon Deuteronomy

But now remaineth that we speak of God in all reverence, specially when his works come in talk. As how? In speaking of the weather, be it fair or be it rainy, they be marks of his Majesty. If he send us sad weather, he showeth himself a Judge to make us perceive his displeasure, to the intent to make us enter into the examination of our sins, that we might be sorry for them and be led to amendment. But in stead of humbling our selves before GOD, and of being sorry that we have offended: we become wayward as we see men commonly be, who fall to repining, and say, must this weather last ever? and so we flee not to our GOD, ne ask him forgiveness of our sins. And after the same manner deal we in all other things: for I allege but only one example, to show that when we speak of Gods works, we must either perceive him to be a Father by his goodness, or feel him to be a Judge by his rigour. Therefore whensoever God doeth any thing that misliketh us, and is contrary to our desire and wishing: let us understand that he chastiseth and tameth us,¹ to the end we should enter into the examination of our sins to condemn them and to be sorry ⟨p. 199⟩for them. If we glorify not God in that behalf, we unhallow his holy name. Again on the contrary part, when God draweth us to him by gentleness as a loving and pitiful father: it is to the intent we should be brought unto him, and honour him the more. And if our unthankfulness be to be condemned for not honouring of him at the first word that he speaketh to us: how shall we do when all things upbraid us, so as God having laid hold on us on all sides,§10 can by no means win us to him, whereby he showeth that we be utter despisers of his Majesty, and that we have trampled his works under our feet, or overturned them with our snouts like swine? I pray you shall it not redound to our dreadful condemnation, if this may be laid to our charge?

But nowe remayneth that we speake of God in al reuerence, specially when his workes come in talke. As howe? In speaking of the weather, bee it faire or bee it rainie, they bee markes of his Maiestie. If he sende vs sadde weather, hee sheweth himselfe a Iudge to make vs perceiue his displeasure, to the intent to make vs enter into the examination of our sinnes, that wee myght bee sorie for them and bee ledde to amendment. But in stead of humbling our selues before GOD, and of being sorie that wee haue offended: wee become wayward as wee see men commonly bee, who fall to repyning, and saye, must this weather last euer? and so wee flee not to our GOD, ne aske him forgiuenesse of our sinnes. And after the same maner deale wee in all other thinges: for I alledge but onely one example, to shewe that when wee speake of Gods workes, wee must eyther perceiue him to bee a Father by his goodnesse, or feele him to bee a Iudge by his rigour. Therefore whensoeuer God doeth any thing that misliketh vs, and is contrarie to our desire and wishing: let vs vnderstand that hee chastiseth and tameth vs,