Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now although God have set his mark upon all his works, so as we ought to know him both in fair weather and in foul, in heat §20and in cold, and (to be short,) in all the order of nature: yet hath he set his mark chiefly upon his word. Of a trueth it is an unexcusable crime, when we acknowledge him not in the good things that he hath made and done for us. We hold our life of him: it is in him that we live,¹ as speaketh Saint Paul. If all these benefits make us not to be mindful of God: it is too unmeasurable a churlishness already: but yet (as I said afore) it hath been his will that §30his mark should be printed above all things in his word. Let us look upon Heaven and earth, and we shall see GOD everywhere. For what else is the world than (as sayeth S. Paul) a lively image wherein God setteth forth himself?² Although he be unuisible in his own being: yet doeth he show himself there, to the intent that we should worship him. But come we once to the holy Scripture: there is an image wherein God showeth himself much more §40familiarly unto us,³ than he doeth either in the skies or in the earth. Neither Sun nor Moon, (though they give light to the world,) do so set forth the Majesty of God, as the Law, the Prophets and the Gospel do. And yet for all that, after what manner do men speak of them? Howe boldly do they deal with them? I pray you do not men take leave now adays to speak of Gods name after their own fancy? And when they fall to reasoning upon the holy §50Scripture among Cups, in Taverns and at Tables, doeth their talk tend to the humbling of themselves, that they may all know their own rudeness and infirmity, and ask of God the gift of his holy spirit, to the end that we may handle his mysteries as becometh us? No: but those disputations are made as it were in way of mockery, and thereby it appeareth well, yea much more than were requisite, that there are very few true Christians now adays in the §60