Sermons upon Deuteronomy

They parget them over, & stop the holes and rifts, but yet in the mean while their house is still in decay. Even so is it with us: we do but parget or plaster our selves over, of purpose to discharge our selves as lightly as might be. But yet doeth nature teach us the clean contrary. For if a man be minded to sow a field, will he cast his corn among the briers and thorns? No: but when he sees his field fair and clean, then breaks he it §50up & tills it: and so must we do. Let us learn then that it is not without cause that God doeth first of all condemn the vices. For he sees they be rooted so deeply in our nature: that it is hard to weed them out, yea and that he can never hold us at such a stay, as to cause us to live in his righteousness, unless he pluck up the cursed roots of this naughtiness which he knoweth to be in us. That is the cause why he sayeth, thou shalt not kill. As if he should say, will ye live in §60good love one with another? Every man must enter into himself, and examine well whether he have there any hatred, enmity, or ill will towards his neighbours. Ye must look whether ye have not some hartrisings & eagerness in you, which provoketh you to threaten your neighbours or to attempt somewhat against them. Ye must consider all these things. For when ye be clear from all anger, hatred, and enmity: then must ye come to this point, that it is not enough for you to abstain from annoyance, wrongfulness, & violence, so as ye have not practised any thing against the persons of your neighbours, nor nourished any rancour or malice against them in your hearts, nor bin infected with evil will: but you must also live in charity, and ye must be as brethren one to another, worshipping God as your father. Lo to what point we must come.

They parget them ouer, & stop the holes and rifts, but yet in the meane while their house is still in decay. Euen so is it with vs: wee doe but parget or plaster our selues ouer, of purpose to discharge our selues as lightly as might bee. But yet doeth nature teach vs the cleane contrarie. For if a mā be minded to sowe a field, will he cast his corne among the briers and thornes? No: but when he sees his field faire and cleane, then breakes he it §50vp & tils it: and so must we do. Let vs learne then that it is not without cause that God doeth first of all condemne the vices. For hee sees they bee rooted so deepely in our nature: that it is hard to weede them out, yea and that he can neuer hold vs at such a stay, as to cause vs to liue in his righteousnesse, vnlesse he plucke vp the cursed rootes of this naughtinesse which he knoweth to be in vs. That is the cause why he saieth, thou shalt not kill. As if he shoulde say, will ye liue in