Sermons upon Deuteronomy

For oftentimes we see that Princes reign not to magnify Gods name, and to cause him to be honoured as he deserveth: but clean contrariwise they would fain make them selves idols, and as it were pluck God out of his seat to sit in it themselves. This is apparent: at leastwise a man may see that Princes reign loosely: & therefore God must needs be revenged of them. What zeal or mind have fathers and mothers to bring up their children in the fear of God? They pass not for that, so they may advance them to the worldwarde. Nay rather it should seem that their intent is to train them up in all ungodliness, and in the contempt of God and his word. If the fathers be wolves, they would have their children wolvish: if they be old Foxes, they would have them to be foxish: & if they be serpents, they would have their linage and offspring like themselves. This is to be seen. Therefore it is good reason that GOD should be revenged of the creatures, when they forget themselves after that sort, specially when men consider not how God hath reached them ⟨p. 216⟩his hand to advance them, and to make them partakers of his honour, one under another. This is always to be borne in remembrance. But is it not a shameful unthankfulness, when a man that is in authority of justice, considereth not with himself: what am I? Behold, I am a wretched worm of the earth, and yet GOD vouchsafeth me to bear his name as from him self, and withal to put the authority in practise which he hath given me▪ Is not a man too unthankful §10when he acknowledgeth not that? Again, when fathers consider not: Behold, God is the father of all mankind, and yet hath he given me the same honourable title: Therefore it is good reason that I should look to yield him an account of it▪ When masters and mistresses acknowledge not: We be no better than other folks, and yet hath God vouchsafed to inhonour us, not only by creating us after his own image, but also by giving us this moreover,§20 that others are subject unto us: if men (say I) acknowledge not this: is it not to be said that they be become stark beasts?

For oftentimes wee see that Princes reigne not to magnifie Gods name, and to cause him to be honored as he deserueth: but cleane contrariwise they would faine make thē selues ydols, and as it were plucke God out of his seate to sit in it themselues. This is apparant: at leastwise a man may see that Princes reigne loosely: & therfore God must needs be reuēged of them. What zeale or minde haue fathers and mothers to bring vp their childrē in the feare of God? They passe not for that, so they may aduance them to the worldwarde. Nay rather it should seeme that their intent is to traine them vp in all vngodlynesse, and in the contempt of God and his worde. If the fathers bee woolues, they would haue their children wooluish: if they be olde Foxes, they would haue them to be foxish: & if they be serpentes, they would haue their linage and ofspring like themselues. This is to be seene. Therefore it is good reason that GOD should be reuenged of the creatures, when they forget themselues after that sort, specially when men consider not howe God hath reached them