Sermons upon Deuteronomy

So then let us mark, that if we intend to profit well in Gods Law, we must have an eye to the vices and imperfections that are in us, and be sorry for them: and moreover strain our selves to weed them out. Have we done so? that is not all that we have to do. For God will not have us idle in this world. His creating of us, is not only to abstain from evil: (for stones and trees and other senseless things do as much as that comes to:) but we must give and apply our selves to the doing of good.¹ Then let us understand, that whereas our Lord will have the life of our neighbours to be dear and precious to us: he showeth therewithal that he which helpeth not his neighbour at his need, doeth what he can to murder him: in so much that we become murderers, not only when we bear any ill will, or keep any hatred privily towards our neighbours: but also even when we succour them not in their necessity. If we vouchsafe not to bestow our travel for them when they have need of our help, we shall be blamed before God. Sith it is so, it is not for us to flatter our selves any more in this case: for we see how strait the Law is: and yet not straiter than it ought to be. For can we refuse to be knit together in charity at Gods commandment, seeing he hath created us after his own image? Or to yield him such reverence being our father, as to maintain brotherhood among our selves, seeing he hath vouchsafed to unite us in such bond? Shall we say that God is too strait to us, and layeth too heavy a burden upon us, because he leadeth us to such indifferē city & uprightness? No: but howsoever come of it, let us beware we flatter not our selves, seeing we understand that our Lord will have us to do our endeavour in helping one another, and that we should set as much store by the life of our neighbour, as he himself doeth.

So then let vs marke, that if we intend to profit well in Gods Law, we must haue an eye to the vices and imperfections that are in vs, and bee sorie for them: and moreouer straine our selues to weed them out. Haue we done so? that is not all that wee haue to doe. For God will not haue vs idle in this worlde. His creating of vs, is not onely to abstaine from euill: (for stones and trees and other senselesse things doe as much as that comes to:) but wee must giue and applye our selues to the doing of good.¹ Then let vs vnderstand, that whereas our Lord will haue the life of our neighbours to bee deare and precions to vs: he sheweth therewithall yt he which helpeth not his neighbor at his neede, doeth what he can to murther him: in so much yt we become murtherers, not onely whē we beare any ill will, or keepe any hatred priuily towards our neighbours: but also euen whē wee succour them not in their necessitie. If we vouchsafe not to bestow our trauel for them when they haue neede of our helpe, we shall be blamed before God. Sith it is so, it is not for vs to flatter our selues any more in this case: for wee see howe straite the Law is: and yet not straiter than it ought to bee. For can wee refuse to bee knit togither in charitie at Gods commandement, seeing he hath created vs after his owne image? Or to yeelde him such reuerence being our father, as to maintaine brotherhood among our selues, seeing he hath vouchsafed to vnite vs in such bond? Shall wee say that God is too straite to vs, and layeth too heauie a burthē vpon vs, bicause he leadeth vs to such indifferē cie & vprightnes? No: but howsoeuer come of it, let vs beware we flatter not our selues, seeing we vnderstand yt our Lord will haue vs to do our indeuour in helping one another, and that wee should set as much store by the life of our neighbour, as he himselfe doeth.