Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Furthermore seeing God hath forbidden murder as an ugly and outrageous thing: let us assure our selves that he which riseth up against his neighbour to murder him, is not worthy to live upon the earth: for he is worse than a wood beast. We see how Bears, Lyons, and other wild beasts do play together. And why is that? Because that although they have no reason nor discretion, although they have no Law nor equity: yet notwithstanding the common knowledge [or instinct] of nature holdeth them in order. Ye see then that the very beasts have skill to live well together with the beasts of their own kind, without hurting one another. And should not men be restrained by some consideration, seeing that God hath imprinted it in their hearts that murder is a wicked thing? They see they be all of one nature, and every man beholds the image of God in his neighbour. And should not this serve them for a bridle, to withhold them from all violence? What a dealing were it else? So then, let us bear well in mind, that although God had never spoken to us, yet have we sufficient proof in our selves already, that if any man set himself against his neighbour, he defieth nature, and is unworthy to be reckoned in the array of men. But now seeing that the authority of God is matched with the knowledge which we ought to have had aforehand, and that he showeth us that there shall no blood of man be shed, but the same shall come to account before him: let the hearing thereof teach us to live without doing any man wrong, or else let us assure our selves he will become our mortal enemy: for he telleth ⟨p. 220⟩us that men are in his protection.

Furthermore seeing God hath forbidden murther as an owgly and outragious thing: let vs assure our selues that hee which riseth vp against his neighbour to murther him, is not worthy to liue vpon the earth: for he is worse than a wood beaste. Wee see howe Beares, Lyons, and other wilde beastes doe play together. And why is that? Because that although they haue no reason nor discretion, although they haue no Lawe nor equitie: yet notwithstanding the common knowledge [or instinct] of nature holdeth them in order. Yee see then that the verie beasts haue skill to liue well together with the beastes of their owne kinde, without hurting one another. And shoulde not men bee restreined by some consideration, seeing that God hath imprinted it in their hearts that murther is a wicked thing? They see they bee all of one nature, and euerie man beholdes the image of God in his neighbor. And shoulde not this serue them for a bridle, to withholde them from all violence? What a dealing were it else? So then, let vs beare well in minde, that although God had neuer spoken to vs, yet haue wee sufficient proofe in our selues alreadie, that if any man set himselfe against his neighbour, hee defieth nature, and is vnworthy to be reckened in ye aray of men. But nowe seeing that the authoritie of God is matched with the knowledge which wee ought to haue had aforehande, and that hee sheweth vs that there shall no bloude of man bee shed, but the same shall come to account before him: let the hearing thereof teach vs to liue without doing any man wrong, or els let vs assure our selues he will become our mortall enemie: for hee telleth