thing whatsoeuer and what benefite can you bestowe on me But all which I haue done and doe is onely for your profite and for your welfare I am then here readie to couenaunt by articles with you and to bind my selfe vnto you on my part Seeing I say that the liuing God doth abase himselfe so farre I pray you shall not we be to vnthankfull if we be not herewith beaten downe to humble our selues vnder him laying aside all our pride and hautinesse It is not therefore without cause that Moses speaketh here of the couenaunt which God hath made with his people to the end that especially his fauour and goodnesse shoulde be knowen Nowe if this was to be done in the time of the lawe there is at this day much greater reason thereof for the Lorde hath not onelie made a couenaunt for one time as with the Iewes but when he sent this onely some then declared he him selfe to be our father and sauiour much more fullie than before he had done and that after so sweete so gratious and so amiable a manner as nothing more in such sort that he hath here as it were laid forth his bowelles of loue and compassion towards vs Seeing therefore God hath presented vnto vs his heart in the person of our Lorde Iesus Christ and wee heare besides the protestation which Iesus Christ maketh that he will call vs no more his seruaunts but his friendes because he hath so familiarly communicated vnto vs all the secrets of his will must it not I beseeche you needes be that the diuell hath bewitched vs if wee bee not hereby moued to frame ourselues wholy vnto him renouncing euen our selues and all our affections So then when we perceiue in our selues any wickednesse wherby we are hindred to serue God when we feele our selues idely disposed in the worke of the Lord are euen brought into an heauie sleepe by the cares of this world to stirre our selues vp to praise our God let vs haue in minde this couenaunt which the Lord hath made with vs Nowe herevpon Moses further addeth The Lord made not this couenaunt with our fathers but with vs euen with vs which are aliue at this day This place may bee vnderstood after two sortes for it may bee taken for a comparison which Moses maketh the better to declare that the people which then liued ought to bee so much the more diligent in the seruice of God because they had receiued greater benefites than their fathers In which sense he speaketh in Exodus I haue not communicated this name to your fathers where God speaking vnto Moses saith that he declared not him self so plainly to bee God to Abraham Isaac and Iacob as he did vnto Moses And by this he signifieth that the people should be now more attentiue because God had reuealed himselfe vnto them after an vnaccustomed manner Euen so in this place one may vnderstand this God hath not made such a couenaunt with your fathers It is true that God spake vnto his seruaunts Abraham Isaac Iacob and did sufficiently instruct them And it is expresly said in the. 18. of Gen. Shall I hide from my seruant Abraham that which I will now execute vpon Sodome and Gomorra For I knowe that he will instruct his housholde in my decrees and ordinannces in my statutes and iudgements See then howe Abraham instructed his familie not after some bare and naked manner but in the iudgements and statutes and ordinaunces of the Lord Briefly wee must needes say that Abraham had the lawe of God imprinted in his heart yet loe besides a benefite not to be contemned when God hath sent this lawe in the two tables to the end the instruction thereof might remaine and abide for euer to his people and that the thinges therein conteined might be ratified for euer and testified to all posteritie as well as to them We see then what we may gather vpon this sentence euen as much as if Moses should haue said vnto the people Beloued acknowlege we the benefite the Lord bestoweth on vs this day euen such an one as our fathers haue receiued none the like for he deliuered not vnto them the lawe by writing as vnto vs he hath not declared to them these thinges in such plaine order True it is that he did sufficiently instruct them as much as was necessarie requisite for their saluation but here is yet an higher degree further steppe to which we are come at this day and therefore wee ought to drawe so much the neerer to him seeing we see that he hath so stooped vnto vs And this is the meaning of Moses if we vnderstand the place in this sense As if a man shoulde say at this day that God hath not done so to our fathers as he hath done vnto vs And this is that which Christ said to his disciples That many Kings and Prophets haue desired to see those thinges which you see heare those thinges preached which you heare and yet haue not had their desire Seeing then it is so that God of his infinite mercie goodnesse vouchsafeth to preferre vs before the Patriarches and Prophetes as it is also said that the Prophets serued not so much their owne time as ours we ought with greater diligence to suffer our selues to be taught vnder him to applie our selues wholy to his doctrine Notwithstanding when all is well considered although this we haue alledged be profitable and the exhortation is often brought in holy Scripture yet when we shall haue weighed all the wordes wee shall finde that Moses when he saith that God did not make his couenaunt with them which heard the lawe the first day it was published meaneth to say that not onely with them he made his couenaunt but also with those which ouer liued them and succeded in the place of those which were dead So that in fewe woordes Moses woulde here declare that the lawe was not transitorie to endure onely for the life of them which first heard it but that it was a doctrine which shoulde reteine his strength authoritie foreuer The Lord our God saith he hath not made a couenant with our fathers that is to say he woulde not onely haue our fathers for his people he was not tied to them so that his lawe should serue but for fortie or fiftie yeares but he hath made a couenaunt with vs as well and with them which were not borne when the lawe was published You then which were not at the mount of Horeb which haue not seene the fire on the montaine nor heard the thunderinges know you not withstanding that your God did then adopt you also to himselfe and that he made a couenaunt in the which you also were comprised You must therefore obserue his lawe because it hath bene established to bee perpetuall to endure from age to age and to bee preached euen to the end of the worlde And this is
gelous God visiting the iniquitie of the fathers vpon the children euen to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me 10 And shewing mercie to thousandes of them that loue me keepe my Commaundements BEcause men are so farre inclined to corrupte the worshippe of God by wicked superstitions it behoueth that God feare them by his threates to the end they might be as it wereforceably kept backe when otherwise they woulde carrie them selues headlong by their vanitie to imagine of GOD cleane contrarie to all that which is agreeable with his Maiestie And this is a pointe worthie to bee noted For it seemeth as wee haue alreadie touched that it was now needelesse to forbidde the people of Israel to make any images after they had knowen the liuing god But because of our cursed inclination it was requisite that this so streight a forbidding as wee see should be adioyned And this is done as well for vs as for them because this vice is as it were settled in our bones If God shewe not that he will not suffer idolatrie and that wee bee not wounded with such threats there is not one amongest vs which forgeth not an infinite number of idols and by this meane the honour due to the liuing God is transported vnto our fantasies Let vs note then that here we are reproued of hauing a cursed and peruerse nature whiche alwayes draweth vs to superstition and that there is great need that we be held backe after some violent and forceable manner For of our owne good will we neuer serue GOD in such sort as that we imagine nothing of him but that which is proper to his Maiestie And withall wee may note to what purpose our good meanings serue vs For if there be any thing in whiche men may excuse them selues with this that they thinke they do well it is when they forge vnto them selues idols For to what end doe they make them but to serue God to bee stirred vp to greater deuotion and to haue a more strong assuraunce that GOD will heare them in their requestes These then are the men whiche may best pretend this colour of good meaning but yet we see on the contrarie side that God hereby is grieuously angred wee see how he pronounceth an horrible sentence of condemnatiō vpon all them which leaue them selues to be gouerned by their thinking and meaning They will say still and the thing is so That they thinke to serue God but what He accepteth no such seruice but rather accurseth it and that by good right For as wee haue aboue shewed his maieslie is disguised when one will make vnto him a visible image We are then instructed in this place to doe nothing as seemeth vs especially when there is any question of the seruice of God that we attempt nothing after our owne fantasies but that wee followe in all simplicitie that which he appointeth by his worde without adding of any thing vnto it whatsoeuer For assoone as wee shall haue declined neuer so little herein what euer we alledge to make our cause good God will not leaue vs vnpunished For this is no vaine threate when he saith That he is a God of gelousie and anger which visiteth the iniquitie of parentes vpon their children Thus you see then two pointes which wee haue to beare in minde in this place The one is that because wee are by nature ouer much giuen to idolatrie this threatning of God commes alwayes before our eyes to the end we presume not to mingle any thing with his word or to deuise any kind of idolatrie but that we serue him purely according to his nature and not according to our fantasie And let this be for one note The other is that we knowe we must not pretend our good me aninges to iustifie that which we shall haue inuented and deuised but contrarie wise let vs remember that the principall seruice which God requireth is obedience Nowe let vs come to the wordes which are set downe in this sentence God saith in the first place I am thy euerliuing thy God or thy mightie and strong one Here againe he setteth himselfe against all idols For wee haue alreadie seene that to redresse the superstitions of the Israelites he declared himselfe in his maiestie Nowe this is to take all excuse from men when GOD once manifesteth himselfe vnto them When wee knowe not which is the true religion neither can discerne who is the true GOD it is no maruell if all our senses wander and wee runne hither and thither without any right directing of our wayes as poore wanderers but when God hath once declared himselfe vnto vs and wee knowe his trueth then is there great reason that all our dreames fall to the grounde and that wee abide stedfast in that whereof wee haue knowledge For this cause God repeateth this thing That he hath declared himselfe to his people and hath chosen them to himselfe and that he will gouerne them euen by the lawe which is nowe published And of purpose nameth he himself A gelous God wrathfull For this word importeth both these thinges And againe although he be called here God notwithstanding the worde he here vseth is deriued from a word which signifieth strength feare Now when he nameth himselfe Gelous there is no doubt but he meaneth thereby to signifie that he will not suffer that his honour be violated or that he be robbed of that which properly belongeth vnto him to haue it geuen to creatures that he can not patiently endure any such treacherie Therfore when the honour of God shall not be so priced on our part as it deserueth let vs knowe that he will not neglect it For wee shall feele in the end that he forgetteth not himselfe but will mainteine his glorie as he declareth throughout all the holie scripture Verely if wee had but one droppe of true vnderstanding wee woulde be zealous for the honour of our God so that wee needed not to be stirred vp herevnto wee woulde of our selues endeuour to accomplishe that which is written in the Psalmes that is That his zeale should deuoure vs that we shoulde burne within our selues when wee see his maiestie reprochfully abused it would be I say that wee should then feele within vs a burning and consuming fire But what Wee are curious to mainteine our owne honour and in the meane while wee will suffer that the honour of the Lorde bee trampled vnder feete that men make their sporte and game of it that men haue it in derision and mockerie or at least that men mangle and teare it in peeces And therefore when the worlde shall be wholie set on idolatrie when all of vs shall neglect our duetie in the seruice of God shall not our Lorde after he hath reproued our loosenesse and vnthankfulnesse in this point shewe that although wee haue bene carelesse herein he will yet haue such a zeale as behoueth him to mainteine his honour and
his inheritaunce Let vs therefore diligentlie note when it it is saide That thou maiest prosper in the land that God ment not to busie his people in this present life but by this meane it pleseth him to conduct them higher namely to the hope of immortalitie which he had promised them Neuertheles our Lord promiseth his blessing in such sort vnto this people that euen in this life they shall perceiue it and haue thereof some tast waiting to haue the full enioying thereof when they shall be withdrawne out of this world And at this day we ought also to call to minde the testimonie of S. Paule That when we shal feare God we haue the promises of the present life and of the life to come For God wil in this life giue vs some feeling of his goodnes to the end we might therby be led vnto an higher hope and that we also learne to receue the benefites of God in such sort in this world as that we be persuaded we shal be satisâ—ied with them when we shal be come into his kingdome where we shall enioy them in all fulnesse and plentie Now let vs cast our selues downe before the face of our good God with acknowledgement of our faults praying him to make vs feele them better than we haue done vntill we be sed to a true repentance and that more and more feeling our owne wretchednesse wee may learne to resist all the affections of our flesh and all our wicked and peruerse desires and not this only but that cursed presumption which is in vs of attempting to do that which we thinke good that nothing may hinder vs to followe the pure and simple worde of our GOD knowing that this is the true and perfect rule to order vs by that wee attempt to adde nothing thereto but simply rest in that which is therein conteined to profite more and more therein vntill that hauing atchieued and ended our course here on earth wee come vnto that heauenlie rest wherevnto he calleth vs and in the meane time pray we him to reach vs out his hand to stay vs when we shall seeke vnto him and call on him in all our needes and necessities That it will please him to graunt this grace not onely to vs but vnto all people and nations of the earth c. The. 16. Sermon Deut. Chap. 6. 1 These are the commaundementes ordinaunces and lawes which the Lord your God hath commaunded me to teach you that ye might do them in the lande whither ye goe to possesse it 2 That thou mightest feare the Lorde thy God by keeping all the dayes of thy life thou thy sonne and thy sonnes sonne all his ordinaunces and commaundementes which I commaund thee that thy dayes may be prolonged WE haue often heretofore sene how Moses did put the people in minde of the things conteined in the law euen yesterday we sawe how to the same purpose he made mention of them yet againe in this place he doth the like Howbeit this is no needlesse or vnprofitable repetition seing that men haue so soone forgot the things they learne in the schoole of God except the memorie of them for their better remembrance be often refreshed And we see there needeth nothing to turne vs aside from our duetie herein for we are so much inclined vnto vanitie that there is nothing more harder than to reteine vs vnder the obedience of god As soone as we haue conceiued a fantasie it carieth vs away headlong and we remember no more what God had said vnto vs Moreouer because he seeketh no other thing than to winne vs vnto himself he must roote out of vs those false opinions wherewith wee are alreadie forepossessed For it is with vs as with a ground which hath lien fallowe a long time whereon a man must bestowe exceeding great labour before he can applie it to some profitable vse And that is the cause why Moses saith againe That these are the commaundements and ordinaunces and lawes which the Lord hath committed vnto him that hee deliuer them vnto the people and that they bee obserued Now by these woordes he signifieth that God will reteine the people in his obedience when hee semeth to say What meane ye ye wretched ones to wander Loe I deliuer vnto you my lawe when you shall holde your selues in this doctrine you can not erre this is the way of saluation therefore keepe your selues in it Nowe for all this men are still wandering they are borne away headlong hither thither and God continueth to raine them with the bridle as when an headstrong horse is hardlie ruled the rider restraineth him backe with bitte and bridle not for one time onely but so long as he continueth wild and vntamed Yee see then how God vseth the same order with his people And hereby he sheweth that the minde of man is full of rebellion or full of lightnesse and rashnesse and that he can not wholie rest him selfe on the woord of God wherein notwithstanding our whole saluation and happinesse consisteth Seeing then it is so let vs note that vnder the person of the people of Israel we are here warned that when God hath set before vs his worde wee must not thinke on it for one day onely but that we ought to exercise our selues therein all the time of our life And when wee heare this Beholde the statutes Beholde the ordinaunces Beholde the commaundementes which I propose vnto you we must remember that it is not for vs to establish lawes and rules to gouerne our life by but that this authoritie apperteineth onely vnto god Moreouer he hath also admonished vs that he hath shewed vs the right way Let vs therefore followe it and walke therein let vs not make further inquirie what wee ought to doe for there remaineth no doubting when our Lord hath once spoken wee must no longer alledge I know not whether this bee good I knowe not whether somewhat else bee to bee added Content wee our selues with that which God hath shewed vs for he shall alwayes bee a good maister to teach vs if so bee wee bee not peruerse and euill scholers to learne vnder him And for this cause here is againe mention made of commaundementes statutes and ordinaunces that we might not thinke that God woulde instruct vs by halfes There is then in his lawe comprised a full perfection of all wisedome so that there resteth nothing but that wee yeald obedience therevnto that wee bee not so curious as to desire more than God sheweth vs that we haue no foolish deuotions which leade vs wandering hither and thither knowing that God hath not enuied them which were vnder his charge the knowledge of any thing behouefull for them but hath taught them all that which was profitable and necessarie for them Let vs therfore gouerne our selues according vnto his will let vs applie all our senses thereto let his lawe suffice and content vs albeit the whole world scorne and
reiect vs the matter shall not much skill wee haue our Iudge And so although the world wander after vaine fantasies although euerie one forge vnto him selfe that which seemeth him best let vs alwayes consider of appearing before the tribunall seate of our God and that vnto him we must render our account Now he hath deliuered vs his lawe and by that he will iudge vs And therefore let vs leaue all that the world imagineth know that all is but vanitie and lying Withall Moses addeth that concerning his office he hath deliuered nothing of his owne And this protestation is well worthie to bee noted For wee must remember what hath bene before said that Moses was the most excellent prophet that euer God raised yet notwithstanding he taketh to him selfe in this place no such libertie as to teach any thing according to his owne iudgement For he knew well that he himselfe was a mortall man subiect to the lawe as were others Behold why he protesteth that that which he bringeth is that which he hath receued from God and that he dispenseth and deliuereth it as it were from hand to hande Sithence Moses doth this who will dare to say that it is lawfull for him to passe further And yet we see what is happened herein For among the whole rable of Papists is there any so giuen to heare what God shall say as to preferre his word before the doctrine of men Nay But they haue their holy mother the Church as they terme it they haue their determinations their decrees their statutes and they thinke it sufficient to haue this couerture of the Church and in the meane time they robbe God of his authoritie to cloth men which are but rottenesse therewith Behold an intollerable sacrilege when God shall no longer be a Lawegeuer to conduct his people and to holde them vnder his yoke but that men will vsurpe and challenge to them selues such an authoritie So much the more heedfullie ought wee to obserue that which is here conteined namelie that Moses albeit he was as an Angel of heauen although God had exalted him aboue all men though he had bene in the mount fortie dayes without eating or drinking any thing to shewe that he was no longer of the number of others yet nothwitstanding when he came from this heauenlie glorie and as it were from the companie of Angels he humbleth himselfe and declareth that he commendeth vnto the people nothing of his owne that he will not feede them with fansies and dreames of his owne head but that hee is contented to haue heard what GOD hath pronounced and that he reciteth it as a faithfull seruaunt which addeth nothing thereto which falsifieth not the commission which is geuen vnto him Ye see then what we haue againe to beare in mind upon this place There followeth now the exhortation which he addeth that is That the people discharge themselues in keeping of the lawe As if he said That it is not geuen for men only to confesse that all that it conteineth is good iust and of great equitie but to this ende also that men shewe whether they be obedient vnto God or no. And that is the cause why he saith That thou feare the Lorde thy God and that thou keepe his commaundementes and statutes Vnder this worde of feare he signifieth that God by declaring his lawe meant to make a proofe whether we will serue him or no. For albeit we obserue all the commaundementes in such sort that men can find no fault with vs yet if this feare of God bee not rooted in our heart if we beare him not this reuerence to desire to bee his all the time of our life this outward obseruing of his commaundementes shall be but a friuosous shewe and a pompe of great vanitie For wee must not thinke that God is contented with that which outwardlie appeareth although it be highlie priced and esteemed of men yet is it but as a vapour of smoke before him We ought therefore to beginne at this point if wee will obserue the lawe of God duelie and in such sort as our life may be agreable vnto God namelie that we beare him all reuerence that wee seeke to be vnder his hande vnder his guide and direction that we seeke to doe him homage as our souereigne King we seeke to dedicate our selues vnto him as to our Creator we seeke to honour him as our Father When this affection and desire shall bee in vs then haue we the beginning of the whole lawe and of all righteousnesse that is the cause why it is said That the true wisdome is the feare of god And when wee will knowe whether wee haue profited in the lawe of GOD we must sounde our heartes to make the triall hereof to feele if wee haue such a zeale and desire that GOD bee honoured and glorified of vs For if there bee such a feare in the heart the fruites thereof will appeare both in our handes and in our feete and in all the partes and members of our bodie as God hath also ordeined this rule when he published his lawe So that they which boast themselues of the feare of God when their life is losed to all wickednesse their owne tongues tell them they lie and they shew full well howe impudent and past shame they are when they vaunt so much of the feare of god Wee see then a place which is well worthie to bee obserued wherin Moses first declareth that to serue God aright it behoueth that our heartes bee wholie giuen ouer vnto him that it sufficeth not that in outwarde appearance wee haue all the vertues that a man might imagine except such an affection and inward desire of the hearte goe before Againe that the feare of God is no hidden and idle thing although it bee in the heart of men yet must it appeare and shew it selfe in their life For it is the heart whiche gouerneth both the handes and the feete and all the other partes and members of the bodie We must therefore learne to shew by effect and experience that wee feare God by ordering our whole life according vnto his will. Now hereby wee may well gather that God disalloweth althings which men attempt beside his woord as the Papistes are continuall men and religious as they say in the seruice of God but in the meane time what doe they They trauell much and are neuer the neere for they profite nothing because in the whole woorshippe of God which they pretend there is nothing but the inuentions and deuises of men To serue God is to mumble a fewe small prayers and to crouch before their moppets and idols to trudge from altar to altar to chaunt their Masses to gad on pilgrimage to fast such a day in the honor of such and such a Saint to eate no flesh on Fridayes nor Saturdayes brieflie it is nothing else but a dongeon of such like trumperies whatsoeuer they haue vnder this shadowe
you haue not bene worthie to enter into the lande which I did promise you See then how God woulde chastise his people when he suffereth them to dwell nigh vnto the temple of Peor And at this day when we are mingled among idolaters and perceiue what vncleanesse they commit and howe they peruertall religion let vs know that God by this meanes doth punish vs or at least humbleth vs because of our sinnes And in deede considering this we ought not onely to lament for the sinnes which are committed by these incredulous and vnbeleeuing persons but also because we knowe that we are not worthie to haue the worlde wholy reformed and to behold an agreement harmonie in religion that God might be in all places purely worshipped that when we are so neere to the superstitions of other that we be constrained to see some of the markes and signes and to heare something thereof we must impute this to our owne sinnes But how so euer it be God ceaseth not to geue a good remedie to the people of Israel for when the lawe was in this sort taught by Moses it was all one as if God shoulde separate his from those miserable blinde ones which wandered and went astraie in their superstitions Now herevpon we haue to note that although all the worlde be peruerted and that in it wee see great confusions and that all is full of errours and corruptions yet notwithstanding it behoueth that we haue recourse to the worde of God to be guided thereby which must strengthen vs in such sort that we may defie all the superstitions of idolaters And if we be so full fraughted with vanitie that we geue ouer our selues to decline and to turne aside hither and thither after that God shall haue geuen vs his worde there remaineth then no excuse For as I haue alreadie said this shoulde be a bridle good enough for vs that God declareth to vs his will. Although all the worlde drawe backward and some haue one fantasie and others make a faire shewe of some religion yet all this must be esteemed as vaine friuolous after that we haue heard the voice of our God and by that shall haue intelligence of his will. And therefore let vs put to our vse this certeine and infallible doctrine the worde of God to withdrawe vs from all wicked opinions from all euill errours from all that the diuell hath forged and counterfeited and from all that men shall haue inuented deuised in the world Thus ye see what we haue to beare in minde when Moses maketh mention here of the temple of Peor Nowe he also addeth that this was after the two kinges Og the king of Bashan Sehon the king of the Amorites or of Heshbon were discomfited This circumstance serueth to reproue the people if they shoulde not yeald them selues in all obedience vnto god We knowe that according to the benefite GOD bestoweth on vs we ought so much the more to be stirred vp and prouoked to loue and to feare him God hath shewed himselfe bountifull and liberall towards vs ought it not to drawe vs so much the more vnto him For when a mortall man is indebted and bounde vnto vs for some benefite and good turne shall he not be accounted dissolute and verie vnthankfull if he reknowledge not the good we did him Howe then shall there be lesse excuse towards the liuing God Let vs then remember that Moses in this place maketh expresse mention of these two Kinges which were banquished and subdued to the end the people should reknowledge this benefite in this manner Go to we haue had here two excellent victories When heretofore we attempted warre against the commaundement of God our enimies with great courage gaue vs the foile there was in vs no strength our enimies were as waspes which come to put out our eyes as the similitude hereof hath bene before giuen there are now two Kings strong and mightie ouerthrowen and subdued without any cost of ours God hath deliuered them into our handes Who hath bene the cause of both these victories Hath it not bene God which hath ruled gouerned all herein Sithence then it is so that he hath pitie on vs hath begonne to accomplish the promise whiche he made to our fathers that we haue alredie so good a warrant gage thereof ought not wee to endeuour to yeald our selues wholie to our God Ought we not in all thinges to be subiecte vnto him Ought we not to geue our selues ouer into his hand which he hath shewed so strong by reason of the loue he beateth vs See I say how Moses hath vnderstod this which he reciteth touching the ouerthrow of Sehon Og euen to reproue the vnthankfulnesse of the people if they submite not them selues willinglie to the seruice of their God to whome they were so much bound But now we ought also to applie this doctrine to our owne vse that is that as often as we perceiue in our selues any slouth or lithernesse in the busines of the Lord any remisse negligence any coldnes any rebelliō of the flesh which striueth stubbornly resisteth in such sort that wee come not to God with so cheerefull earnest affection as were requisitie that then we enter into a count of the benefites wee haue receiued of him to say Wretched creature howe art thou so negligent that thou cleauest not to thy God when he hath declared his will vnto vs Consider what thou holdest of him consider the benefits he hath bestowed on thee euen vnto this houre So then let euerie one examine consider how farre he is indebted to God that we may be the more prouoked to serue him And in generall let vs know that he not only created vs when we were not but also that after that he had redeemed vs by the bloud of our Lorde Iesus Christ as he redeemed his people out of the land of Egypt he hath by his grace drawen vs to him so as we had the doctrine of the Gospell deliuered vs which is all one as if he had receiued vs vnder his gard and protection and daily he sheweth the same vnto vs by effectes for what greater aides and succours haue wee from him in our infirmities Should we not a thousand times bee ouercome of Satan if our God had not his hand stretched out to succour vs Yes uerelie we should be then all ouercome and not onely oppressed but also swalowed vp in our temptations without such a stay and refuge as I haue said Sith then it is so that our Lorde ceaseth not to confirme daily his goodnesse towards vs let vs on our part aduise our selues and consider to take this occasion to serue him with a more ardent desire and greater zeale as we see it is heere spoken In this sense it foloweth that Moses speaketh to the people of Israel saying Heare O Israel the lawe which the Lord hath caused to be proposed vnto you that ye may
to declare himselfe our father and sauiour for our Lorde Iesus Christes sake that he will not onely graunt this grace to vs but to all people and nations of the earth c. Deut. Chap. 5 ▪ 1 Then Moses called all Israel and said vnto them Heare O Israel the ordinaunces and the lawes whiche I set before you this day that ye may learne them and take heede to obserue them 2 The Lord our God made a couenaunt with vs in Horeb. 3 The Lorde made not this couenaunt with our fathers but with vs which are all aliue at this day 4 The Lorde talked with you face to face on the mount out of the middest of the fire WE haue seene heretofore howe greatly Moses hath laboured to make the people perceiue the Maiestie which is in the worde of God to the end they should receiue it with all reuerence and feare For although men protest that they will obey God for so nature constraineth them yet can they not order them selues and their doinges according to his word and that is the verie true touchstone to knowe whether wee bee obedient to God or no. But herein is the rebellion of the worlde seene that although all will confesse that the worde of God is to bee receiued without any gainsaying yet shall one finde scarse one among an hundred which willingly humbleth him selfe to yeald vnto it that authoritie it deserueth And why is this Surely because we consider not of the Maiestie of God which declareth it selfe therein See then howe Moses not without cause so often heretofore hath wained the people that the worde of God shoulde be of such Maiestie towardes vs that all creatures shoulde tremble at it And nowe againe he addeth a confirmatiō of the same matter when he saith That the Lord talke◠face to face on the mount out of the middest of the fire as if bee shoulde saie You haue no cause now to doubt whether the doctrine which I propose vnto you be of God or of men for it is sufficiently proued God hath declared himselfe vnto you by plaine and visible signes in such sorte that you may well perceiue it is he which speaketh Nowe then wee see the intent and meaning of Moses But before wee passe any further one may here make a question How it is said that God spake face to face seeing that men cannot comprehend his infinite glorie For with what eye can wee contemplate his substance being We are so fraile weak that if God should but shew one beame of his brightnesse behold we should be all dazeled confounded therewith On the other side we know how it is said That we cannot se God face to face vntill we be renewed which shall not bee vntill the latter day For now saith S. Paule We see as in a glasse in part euen obscurely vnperfectly Which more is he saith in an other place That the Gospell at this day doth present vnto vs the Maiestie of God in such sort that wee may see it but the lawe was darke and obscure and had availe which hindered our fathers to knowe God in so plaine and familiar a manner as wee doe at this day But all this agreeth verie well For when wee make a comparison of the lawe with the Gospell it is certeine wee shall finde this which Saint Paule speaketh to be most true For then God declared not himselfe in so familiar a fashion as he doth vnto vs by the meanes of our Lorde Iesus Christ who is the liuelie image of him Nowe a dayes therefore there are laide open vnto vs the great treasures of wisdome in that God calleth vs to the kingdome of heauen sheweth that he holdeth vs for his children heirs Now this was not in the time of the lawe And yet although at this day we haue such a knowledge and so plaine manifest yet remaineth that alwayes true which we haue alledged that wee see but in part And why For we are not yet partakers of the glorie of God neither can we come neere it but it behoueth that he shew it according to our rudenesse and infirmitie Yet notwithstanding from the beginning of the world God hath appeared vnto mortall men Howbeit this was not to shewe him selfe as he is but as the weaknesse and infirmitie of men might beare it We must then note that God was not knowen to the fathers neither appeareth at this day in his owne beeing but he applieth him selfe to vs in asmuch as he sheweth him selfe for our measure and abilitie to make vs perceiue that he is present And yet for all that it is not without cause that Moses saith here that God spake face to face for he vnderstādeth hereby that the people had not some coniecturall signe that they might dout of him or conceiue onely some small opinion of God but that they had a certeine and infallible warrant whereby they might in this sort conclude Behold God hath so shewed himselfe to vs that our faith need not wauer and be doubtfull and the doctrine which is proposed vnto vs in his name ought no longer to be disputed of whether it be to be receiued or refused And why For God hath deliuered vnto vs a sure and certeine marke which can not beguile nor leaue vs in doubt but that this doctrine proceedeth from him Now we vnderstand the mening of Moses from whence we haue to gather a good lesson that is that if God declare not himselfe vnto vs after so high glorious a manner as our lust desireth let vs know that he doeth it for our profite and saluation For let vs haue an eye to our infirmitie and it will be sufficient to abate that ouer boldnesse to the which our nature alwayes stirreth vs For we would inquire and seeke after the secrets of God without end or measure And why is that Verely because we consider not our owne power and abilitie Wherefore let vs praise the great goodnes of our God for that he in fauour so considereth of vs regardeth our weaknesse that he is content to hide his glorie ▪ least we should be swallowed vp thereof For as I haue alreadie said we can not beare it being so fraile weake as we are And here withall let vs knowe that when God geueth vs some euident signe and token of his presence there resteth then no excuse if we yeald not to him the honour and doe him the homage he is worthie of Let vs not then desire that God come in his inestimable glorie that the heauens cleaue in sunder that all the Angels of heauen appeare but when the Lorde any way declareth that it is he which speaketh let it suffice vs and let vs humble our selues incontinently For if then we will foreslowe to yeld him our dutie we shal be sharply reproued for turning our backe to him when he sheweth his face to vs It is true that it is said in an other place That
not approch nigh to the hill for the great feare they had conceiued And although at this day we refuse not but that God shoulde speake vnto vs yet when all is well considered it should not bee profitable for vs And therefore let vs knowe that this ought not to lessen the certeintie and assurance of our faith when God thus vseth the meanes ministerie of men It is said consequently That God hath taught his people saying I am the eternall or euerliuing thy God which hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt thou shalt haue no other GOD before my face In this place GOD to hold his people as with a bridle in obedience telleth them that the knowledge they haue ought to keepe them farre from all superstitions For it is no straunge thing to see the Heathen haue their idols and to runne astray after their errours and fantasies if wee remember what man is in him selfe Wee are also so geuen to vanitie that it is lamentable to behold neither neede wee to goe to schole to learne to bee deceiued for euerie man heerein is a great Doctour in that case briefly wee all runne to euill though vnder the cloke and colour of that whiche is good so that for the true seruice of GOD there is nothing in vs but superstition and idolatrie and so the Gentiles haue had their diuerse kindes of superstition for euerie one hath forged somewhat at his pleasure and all this while the liuing GOD hath beene left and forsaken of all And why Because GOD vouchsafed not to bee so gratious to all the worlde to declare him selfe vnto them Wee see then how men were become as beastes in their opinions and that was for default of teaching although for all this they are not helde excused for they are alwayes guiltie before GOD for asmuch as the founteine of idolatrie proceedeth from their owne malice and vnthankfulnesse when as men by their owne motion haue forsaken the euerliuing god But when the worlde was growne out of kinde the poore Gentiles wandered like blinde men in darknesse for they wanted the light to shew them the way of saluation Howe here the Lorde accuseth the Israelites of rebellion if they obserue not the Lawe which he hath giuen Why so I am the euerliuing thy god When he saith The euerliuing it is to exclude other Gods which are inuented of men As if he should say There is but one Godhead and that is found in me it must needes then be concluded that they whiche hauing knowen me turne themselues after their idols haue no excuse to alledge that they haue not willinglie and wittinglie renounced the liuing god Nowe when he adioyneth That he is the GOD of his people this is to shew that he hath sufficiently declared himselfe to bee knowen vnto them as if he did say I haue separated you from among the rest of men you see howe others wander and that because they lacke wherewith to guide and direct them but I haue chosen you for my people and I haue giuen my selfe to you Seeing then I am your GOD hold your selues to me otherwise you shall haue much lesse excuse than the Painims My bengeance must needes bee double vpon you yea an hundred times more grieuous than vppon other because you haue falsified the promise and broken the couenaunt which I made with you He alledgeth yet further the fauour he did shew to this people when he saith That he brought them out of the land of Egypt out of the house of bondage whereby he signifieth that he hath so bound the people vnto him that they can not reuolt but that they shall deserue to be more grieuously punished For when they shall haue forgotten the redemption by the whiche they were deliuered out of bondage should not their vnthankfulnesse be double when being deliuered by so mightie an hand they yeald not them selues wholie to the seruice of their redeemer And of purpose doth he call Egypt The house of bondage to the end the people shoulde well consider in what estate they had bene there For we see howe they whiche had sighed and cried when they were oppressed with such great violence and tyrannie as we reade of in Exodus assoone as God had deliuered them desired to returne thicher againe And whence proceedeth this but that they remembred not their wrong and oppression but while they endured it and that the diuell did shutte vp their eyes that they should not esteeme the fauour of GOD according to the price and worthinesse thereof That is the cause why Moses in this place nameth Egypt The house of bondage In the end there is set downe the commaundement that the people shoulde haue no other GOD before the face of him whom they ought to hold for their god Now let vs applie this whole doctrine to our vse First therefore when it is said I am the eternall or euerliuing let vs learne so to weigh the sense and meaning of this woord that when as the maiestie of GOD appeareth vnto vs we imagine no other deitie For GOD can not suffer any companion If the brightnesse of the Sunne darken the light of the Starres is it not great reason that when GOD sheweth him selfe euerie one should worshippe him and that all glorie whiche shall haue bene before be as it were brought to nothing And this is the cause why it is saide to the Prophetes That when the Lorde shall reigne there shall then appeare no other brightnesse but his that the Sunne it selfe shal be dimmed and that the Moone shal be turned into darknesse This is to shewe that if we mingle with GOD the fantasies of our owne braine we take away so much from the right whiche apperteineth to him for he can not suffer any companion It behoueth then that this woorde Euerliuing bridle all our fantasies and fond imaginations in such sort that wee presume not on the libertie to conceiue this and that but that we content our selues with this simplicitie to haue one GOD and that this suffice vs And for this cause it is also said That when our Lorde Iesus shall prepare and establish his seate in the worlde that all the idols of Egypt shall fall to the ground Now this place apperteineth vnto vs For as Moses saide to the people of auncient time You haue the euerliuing and therefore it behoueth that all idols bee chaced from among you euen so nowe sithence GOD is declared and made manifest vnto vs in the person of his onely sonne all our idols must fall downe Moreouer we knowe that Egypt aboue all countries of the worlde besides was full fraughted with idols Therefore though wee haue bene in former times euen plunged in lies and errours and darknesse though wee haue had an infinite number of idols yet as soone as GOD declareth that he is the euerliuing all must vanish and fall away as water Nowe when further he nameth himselfe Our GOD this is to entise vs
after so gentle a manner that his maiestie might be knowen vnto vs in most louing and amiable wise For if GOD should speake only of his eternitie and souereigne being we should be all confounded Of a trueth this might suffice to condemne all our dotages yet we in the meane time can not bee fitlie hereby instructed to our vse and profite It behoueth then that after it hath bene declared that it is he alone whom wee ought to reuerence and to whome we must doe homage that he come vnto vs all after a gentle and familiar manner that wee may perceiue him to be our father and maister that we may knowe that he will alie himselfe and make a couenaunt with vs to the end we should cleaue vnto him This is meant by the title which he giueth himselfe in this place saying I am not onely thy euerliuing whiche come here to fright thee but I am withall thy god I haue chosen thee to my selfe I will that thou bee my heritage So then wee nowe see howe GOD authorizeth his Lawe to the end we should receiue it in all feare and humilitie and howe withall he sweeteneth it with his loue to the end we should take a tast of it and with a delighte pleasure submit our selues vnto it not refusing to be gouerned by the doctrine therein conteined And let vs knowe that wee can haue no excuse if at this day we honour not our GOD in trueth renouncing all our superstitions and what soeuer is contrarie to his seruice And why Because he shoulde winne vs to himselfe by these titles whiche are giuen to holde vs in his feare When he speaketh of the rule and power he hath ouer vs all and when he calleth him selfe Our GOD this ought to make vs tast his fatherlie goodnesse These two thinges are here comprised Wee see then that there remaineth nothing but that we geue diligent eare to that which is declared vnto vs in the lawe of God theron wholie rest and stay our selues And for this cause he vpbraided the people of Israel that they neither feared nor loued him If I be thy God and maister where is then my feare If I bee thy father where is my loue saith he by his Prophete Malachie There is no doubt but the Prophet in this place had respect vnto this whiche Moses here breefly toucheth For when GOD nameth himselfe The euerliuing he doeth it to the end that we shoulde beare him due reuerence When he nameth himselfe The GOD of his people it is to winne them by loue and gentlenesse and to shewe that after he hath elected them they shoulde geue them selues ouer wholie into his hand Now if this were vnder the lawe by greater right it agreeth vnto vs For although God in the person of his onely some would as it were be much abased yet for all this remaineth he always in his glorie neither is any thing diminished from the highnesse of that maiestie whereof he here maketh mention The abasement of our Lord Iesus Christ is an infallible testimonie of the mercie and loue of our God yet howsoeuer it be this ought not to occasion vs to cōtemne or to lesse esteeme his maiestie for God in this sort hath stopped to vs that he might allure vs to behold with lesse feare his maiestie and learne to reuerence him in such sorte as wee ought to doe So then of good right shall he reproue vs at this day as beeing altogether inexcusable if wee doe not feare and loue him For he sheweth himselfe our GOD and our maister But where is our feare when we regard not that he commaundeth vs when we haue hardened our heartes against his threatenings as if wee would despitefully resist him when wee continue in our wickednesse And although he hath said He will bee our iudge and that he will one day take an account of our doinges how is it that wee make but a scorne and mockerie of it Where is I say the feare which we owe to our GOD For it seemeth that wee will feare a mortall creature more than the liuing GOD which hath all preeminence and superioritie and maistershippe ouer vs Moreouer it is not enough that wee feare GOD after some seruile manner as being forced therevnto but wee must haue a loue alwayes ioyned with our feare For therefore nameth he him selfe Our father And let vs also note that when he declareth him selfe the God of Israel he meaneth by this word that he is our Sauiour also Thou art our God saith the Prophet Abacue and wee cannot perish So then let vs keepe in minde these titles forasmuch as they apperteine to vs and ought to serue this day for our instruction knowing that the Maiestie of God hath appeared in our Lord Iesus Christ Nowe let vs marke this which he further addeth for the greater proofe of his loue and fauour I haue brought you saith he out of the land of Egypte It is true that God here especially bindeth vnto himselfe the people of Israel aboue all other nations to which end he expressely setteth downe the redemption he had wrought them But when God speaketh wee must consider of all the benefites for the which wee are indebted to him which albeit they are in number infinite and inestimable yet wee ought at least wise call them to minde so farre as our small abilitie may doe applying all our wittes senses thereto perceiuing that wee faile and are behinde in this point let vs straine our selues better to minde them at least so farre as to be therby instructed in the loue and feare of our god Doth then God speake We must first consider that this is he which created vs wee are therefore his This one benefite were sufficient to prouoke euerie one with all his might to serue honour god For what sufficient recompense can we make him if there were but this that he hath placed vs in this worlde and of his mercie nourisheth vs here But yet when wee shall haue cast our eyes vp on high or downe belowe and take a diligent view of all the tokens he sheweth vs of his loue seeing that he hath created the worlde for our sake that he hath appointed all thinges to our vse considering that he hath engrauen his owne image in vs that wee shoulde be immortall vnderstanding that he hath prepared a better heritage for vs than this brittle and transitorie life when we perceiue all these things must it not needes bee that wee are more blockish and brutish than beastes if wee bee not rauished with a feruent desire to worshippe our God to vowe and to dedicate our selues wholy vnto him But yet further than this wee must make enquirie and enter into accompte as well of the benefites which are bestowed on vs all in generall as which euerie one also particularly receiueth and then behoueth it euerie one to make his confession with Dauid Lord when I thinke on thy benefites
But on the other dayes because we are occupied ouermuch about our worldlie affaires we are not so geuen to God as in that day which is altogether dedicated vnto this The Sunday the refore ought to serue vs for atowre to make vs mount on high to view the workes of God from a farre when we are neither hindered nor occupied with anything but that we may applie all our senses and our whole vnderstanding to reknowledge the gratious giftes and benefites which he hath bestowed on vs And when we shall well haue practised this on the Sunday namely shall haue deepely considered of the workes of God it is certeine that all the rest of our time we shall be geuen herevnto and that this meditation shall so fashion and polish vs that the Monday and all the rest of the weeke we shall be ledde to thanke our GOD when so before hand we shall haue premeditated on his workes to make our profite therein But when the Sunday is spent not onely in games and pastimes full of vanitie but in thinges which are altogether contrarie vnto God that men thinke they haue not celebrated the Sunday except God therein be by many and sundrie wayes offended When men I say vnhallowe in such sort this holie daie which God hath instituted to leade vs vnto himselfe is it any meruell if wee become brutishe and beastlie in our doinges all the rest of the weeke What is to bee done then Let vs all knowe that this is not sufficient that we come to the Sermon on the Sunday to receiue some good doctrine and to call vppon the name of GOD but wee must digest those thinges we heare and receiue and applie all our senses to the better vnderstanding of those benefites which God bestoweth on vs and that by this meane we bee so formed and fashioned to this thing that the Monday and all the rest of the weeke beside cost vs nothing to aspire and to come to our God and that we neede but to call to minde that whiche we shall haue learned before at good leasure when our mindes be as it were vnwrapped from all those thinges which hinder vs to recount the workes of god And this we haue to note touching the order wee are to obserue at this day which is not in keeping the ceremonie so streightlie as it was obserued vnder the lawe We haue no longer this figure But this rest day is to assemble vs together to the end that according to our infirmitie we bee better exercised to applie our selues to the seruice of God and to haue this day wholie consecrated vnto him to the ende we be drawen altogether from the world and that this may serue vs the better for the rest of our time as we haue saide And withall we must note that this is not enough that euerie one in particular and alone thinke on God and call to minde his woorkes on the Sunday but we must meete together one certeine day to make publike confession of our faith It is true that this ought to bee done euerie day as we haue said but because of the rawnesse and slouth of men it is behouefull to haue one speciall day which may wholie be dedicated and appointed to this vse I confesse well that we are not bound to the seuenth day as indeed we obserue not the day which was commandes the Iewes for this was the Saturday but to shew the libertie of Christians the day hath bene chaunged to the Sunday forasmuch as Iesus Christ in his resurrection hath deliuered vs from the bondage of the lawe hath cancelled the bond therof This was the cause why this chaunge hath bene made in the day But yet wee ought to obserue this order of policie to haue some day in the weeke be it one or be it two for this is left in the choice and libertie of Christians But that the whole people may bee assembled it is conuenient that one certeine day bee ordeined to receiue the Sacramentes together in common to haue the inuocation of the name of God and to shew an vnitie and concord in faith and religion It sufficeth not then that euerie one withdrawe himselfe into his owne house either to reade the holy scripture or to pray vnto God but it behoueth wee come into the companie of the faithfull and there declare the concorde and agreement we haue with the whole bodie of the Church and celebrate in such wise this order as the Lorde hath commaunded But what We may see here the vnhallowing of the seruice of god For as I haue alreadie touched are there not many which will shewe them selues herein despitefull vnto God and that will be exempted from the common lawe and order True it is that they will happilie come fiue or sixe times in the yeare to the sermon But what to doe Euen to make a mockerie of God and of all his doctrine These are indeed in the number of those hogges which came to defile the temple of God and deserued rather to bee in stables and better it were they held them selues in their stinking dennes to speake briefly it were better that such knaues were altogegether cut off from the Church of God than to shewe them selues in the companie of the faithfull But yet how many times come they among them The bell shall ring long enough before a man may espie them in any place So then wee ought with more diligence to take heede to our selues and quicken vp our selues to make such a confession of our faith that God may bee honored with one common accord among vs Moreouer wee must abolish all superstitions For wee see how among Papists men thinke to serue God by slouth and idlenes This is not the manner after which we ought to celebrate the Sabbaoth day but to applie it to his right and lawefull vse wee must knowe as we haue aboue said that our Lord requireth nothing else but that this day bee employed to heare his word to make our prayers in common to make confession of our faith and to vse the Sacramentes See wherevnto wee are called And yet wee see howe all hath bene corrupted brought to vtter confusion in Poperie for as they inuented dayes to honour their hee and shee Santes and haue forged to them selues idols so haue they thought they ought to serue them in all idlenesse Now seeing the world is so corrupted we ought so much the better to note this declaration of the Sabbaoth day as is here touched by Moses And withall let vs knowe to what end our Lord hath commaunded the auncient people to haue one day in the weeke to rest themselues And at this day vnderstanding how this outward ceremonie is abolished by the comming of Christ let vs geue our selues to the spirituall rest that is to dedicate our selues wholie vnto God renouncing our owne desires and affections and further let vs reteine the exteriour policie as farre as it apperteineth vnto vs namelie to
that they also aswell obserue the rest and yet they were not sanctified of GOD and this signe could not apperteine vnto them as wee haue alreadie said It seemeth then that GOD vnhalloweth the sacrament when he communicateth it vnto the vnfaithfull and those which were not circumcised to beare the marke and signe of the couenaunt to them whiche had neither the lawe nor the promises But we are to obserue that this which God speaketh here of straungers extendeth it selfe onely and belongeth vnto this people which he had chosen and adopted For we know that if thinges contrarie to the seruice of God bee permitted although one shall happily saie These which offende are not of our societie and companie we shall notwithstanding be induced by their euill examples to follow them If the straungers had bene permitted to labour among the people of the Iewes what might haue happened hereby The Iewes would haue had dealings with them and so haue defiled themselues they would haue made small difference betwene this day others For when examples are set before our eyes we are easilie led away to that which is euill And albeit there should be no great occasion of turning vs aside yet is our nature so inclined vnto euill that we are easily induced herevnto And how would we resist them when we shold be altogether drawen forward into wickednesse Thus if libertie should haue bene permitted vnto strangers to labour and to doe their businesse among the people of Israel they would soone haue bene corrupted euerie one would haue dispensed with himselfe for this libertie to violate the Sabbaoth day vtterly neglecting the obseruation thereof So then to the end all such occasion of transgressing against this rest might bee remoued and that this day might bee obserued with greater reuerence as God willed that the beastes and cattell should rest so commaundeth he that the strangers do the like Now this ought to serue for our instruction For it is to teach vs that vices ought not to be tolerated among those which make profession of Christianitie but that men ought to punish the offenders yea though they be but strangers and wayfaring men As how When blasphemies are condemned among vs if a man heare a stranger to blaspheme to make a scorne of God and yet hee suffer him and dissemble the matter is not this to suffer a stinking sore to fester to the corrupting and rotting of all the rest See I say what is done when blasphemers shall be so borne withall when they shall haue their flote and full saile in their wickednesse and that men will not represse them albeit they be so open and manifest that men may heare and see them But it is to euident that we are so farre from punishing the blasphemies of them as they deserue which are not of our religion that it is to be seene how we suffer them in those which are together among vs make profession of Christianitie And this is to our greater confusion For when we suffer among vs either Papistes or Iewes or other like as at this day the world is full stuffed with contemners of God when we suffer them I say to raile on the doctrine of the Gospell and to blaspheme the name of God shall we not breede vp so daungerous a disease as after short time shal be incurable and past all remedie If we suffer wicked and dissolute straungers to make here an open sale of their outrages and dissolute behauiours must it not needes be that we bee drawen with them into the like wickednesse and so be altogether corrupted So then let vs diligentlie note that God will haue his people exercised in such puritie that not onely they which make profession of being Christians absteine and keepe them selues from euill but also that they suffer not as farre as shall lie in them others among them to liue inordinatelie For we must remember that the earth is as it were vnhallowed and defiled when the seruice of God is defiled and his holie name dishonored the earth I say in the which by his pleasure we dwell is defiled and accurssed or at least is nothing beholding vnto vs if it be not So then when God hath giuen this priuilege to his children that they may remoue all idolatrie out of the land wherein they dwel without all doubt if they doe it not they shall prouoke the anger of God and his vengeaunce vpon them selues If now wee would permit that the abhominations of Poperie shuld be mingled among vs if by some speciall priuiledge one would graunt a masse to obstinate Papistes which would liue here if one would yeald them some corner of the land to committe their idolatries and superstitions therin can it be but we should drawe on vs the wrath and anger of God kindle the fire of his vengeaunce against vs And why Sithence God hath giuen to them which haue the sword of iustice in their hand and the administration thereof seing that he hath giuen them I say all power and authoritie to chace and put away from out of the land all idolatries and infections of Papistrie certeinelie if they allowe and mainteine them this shal be euen to driue God away that he dwell not nor beare rule among them So then let vs note that not without great cause our Lorde woulde that the straungers whiche dwelt among the people of Israel although they were of an other faith and religion should be constreined to obserue the seuenth day Not for any cause touching them selues or for their instruction For they were not capable hereof but because they should not bee an occasion of offence to draw the people into sinne and because the seruice of God should not be violated and that the land which he had giuen to his seruant Abraham for an inheritance might be wholie dedicated vnto him We are therefore hereby warned not only to sanctifie our selues by Gods worde but also not to suffer any disorder among vs but that all such thinges be remoued cleane away Now further note that when our Lord wil that we haue such a zeale to maintesne his seruice that euen they which professe not themselues to bee of the Church should be constreined to order conforme themselues to vs when they liue in our companie that we shal want all excuse if we on our part be not wholie geuen vnto him be as mirrors spectacles to draw allure the vnfaithfull to win them vnto god For if we when they shall erre wil reprehend them in the meane while they may perceiue the like or greater vices in vs shall they not haue iust occasion to mocke despise all our admonitions So then seeing it hath bene cōmanded not to permit strangers to do things contrarie to the seruice of God let vs know that we are in double maner cōmanded to walk warilie in all carefulnes in such humilitie sobrietie that strangers may be cōpelled forced to
is alwayes this exception vnder it so that this derogate nothing from the right which apperteineth vnto GOD of which it hath bene alreadie handled in the first table For wee knowe that the seruice by the which God is worshipped ought to goe before all other thinges And see why Saint Paule also willing to geue vs the exposition of this place expressely addeth that the children ought to obey their fathers and mothers howbeit in the Lorde And we haue said that the foundation wherevppon wee ought to builde is when wee will bee obedient humble and subiect to our superiours namelie to knowe that almightie GOD is represented in their persons Now take away the foundation and must not the whole building totter and fall vnto the ground But all they which haue not respect vnto God take away the foundation of this doctrine So then the going forward is peruerse and wicked Now this ought to admonishe aswell them which bee in authoritie as those which are subiect vnto them If then men and women haue children they ought to knowe that no subiection is due vnto them except God beare rule aboue all What is then behoofull and necessarie to bee done It behoueth a father diligently to instruct and bring vp his children in the feare of God and that he beginne himselfe to shewe them the way herevnto The mother must doe the like that God may haue his honour aboue all both small great old and young Let Magistrates in like manner seeke by all meanes they may that God be serued and honoured let them mainteine asmuch as lieth in them all that which apperteineth vnto this end sith he vouchsafeth to doe them this honour which they deserue not to sit in the seate which is dedicated to his maiestie to carrie the sword which as a thing sacred and holie apperteineth onelie vnto him let them shew that they are in deede his officers Seeing then it is so that he hath lifted them vp vnto such a dignitie of which they were in no respect worthie let them at least shew this that in his name it is that they haue all authoritie that they referre it vnto him Ye see then how Princes ought to discharge themselues of their dutie euerie one ought to doe the like in his familie houshold Let those vnto whom God of his goodnesse hath graunted to haue men seruantes maides consider well that there is a Maister aboue them all who ought so to be obeyed that his right alwayes be reserued vnto him wholy entirely Loe what instruction al superiors in what degree soeuer they be ought to learne the instruction I say which they are taught commaunded of obedience to god Moreouer when fathers mothers Magistrates will raise vp themselues against God and be lifted vp with such tyrannie as to challenge to themselues that which perteineth vnto God alone when they will turne vs from his obedience ye see an exception which before we haue put downe which maketh that they ought not to be obeyed It behoueth therefore that God goe before and then that the creatures followe after in their subalterne as wee may say that is their seuerall successiue order And in verie deede the cause why for the most part that meekenesse humilitie is so little regarded in the world that the children arme themselues against fathers mothers and behaue themselues as wilde beastes that the people are full of wickednesse and rebellion that seruantes also are full of disloyaltie and disobedience that there is no dealing with any of these to reclaime them in what sort soeuer is the iust punishment of God vpon them which abuse the dignitie which he hath geuen them For oftentimes wee see that the Princes beare not rule to magnifie and set foorth the name and glorie of God to cause that he bee honoured as he deserueth but they drawe cleane backeward herein they will set vp and make themselues idols euen to plucke God as it were cut of his seate to place themselues therein One shall see this at the least one shall see the Princes reigne and beare rule licentiously euen with all the raines of the bridle loosed and God therefore must needes reuenge himselfe of them As for fathers and mothers what zeale haue they to instruct their children in the feare of God All is one with them so they may aduaunce and set them vp in the world yea it seemeth they are disposed to bring them vp in all impietie and vngodlines in all contempt of God and of this word If the fathers be wolues themselues they would haue their children wolues whelpes if they be old foxes they would haue yong cubs to their children if they be serpents themselues they would haue also a serpents broode We see this to be so It is therefore good reason that God aduenge himselfe when the creatures of forget themselues and especially when men know not and acknowledge that God hath stretched forth his hand to lift them vp to communicate vnto them part of his honour euen in a degree right vnderneath him It behoueth we beare this always in mind But what Is not this a wicked villanous vnthankfulnesse when a man which is in authoritie of iustice knowes not to say Who am I Loe I am a poore worme of the earth yet God vouchsafeth that I beare his name as in his behalfe withall that I execute the authoritie which he hath giuen me When a man forgetteth thus to reason with himselfe is he not ouermuch vnthankful Againe when fathers consider not to say Lo God which is only father of all mankind yet notwithstanding he yeldeth vnto me this so honourable a title it is then great reason that I aduise my selfe wel to render an account hereof When maisters mistresses know not to thinke thus We are no better than others yet God hath honoured vs not onely in creating vs after his owne image likenes but in geuing vs this preeminence aboue them which are vnder our subiection when I say men will not knowe thinke thus must we not say that they are become altogether brutish beastlie Let vs therefore diligently note that rebellions often times proceede from them which are in authoritie which know not their office namely that they ought aboue all to procure that God haue his honor that he be serued worshipped that men yeeld subiection obedience vnto him True it is that the rebellious children people seruants shal not be excused for all this but yet we see that this is a iust vengeance of God by so much the more we ought to be stirred vp to followe this which is declared vnto vs both in this place in all the holie scripture where this commandement is alledged Let euerie one of vs then haue a respect vnto his vocation and consider to discharge our duetie in our state calling Let them whom God hath honored so much
bee pliable in such sorte as they ought I graunt a man shall not heare them say plainelie in expresse words they will resist God and make open warre with him But what euer they protest herein are they so tractable to be taught so humble and modest as were requisite they should be Nay they are farre wide from this Againe there is in vs such a dulnesse and vnsensiblenesse that being so nousâ—ed as we are in these earthlie things and so charmed in them wee can not raise vp our vnderstanding to hearken vnto GOD we can not come neere this spirituall wisedome for asmuch as our mindes are sore possessed with the cares of this worlde wee neede not anie thing to make vs rest our mindes here belowe on the earth It is therfore verie needfull and necessarie that our Lorde touche vs to the quicke to the ende we may beare such a reuerence vnto his woorde as that it die not altogether in vs partlie by our rebellion partlie by our stupiditie and dulnesse that is to say because wee are so lumpish so earthlie so grosse and worldlie minded and partlie for that we are alreadie fraughted with so manie vanities that wee neuer minde such things as are on high but lying still groueling on the grounde wee are helde occupied in these transitorie and corruptible things Therefore GOD not without cause spake out of the middest of the fire and of the cloud and whirle winde when he would publishe his fame For it behoued that the people should be touched with some great feare to say There is no talke of sporting our selues with God when he appeareth vnto vs so terrible and in such maiestie what resteth then but that wee tremble vnder him and shewe vnto him such subiection that he gouerne vs as his sheepe that we all bende our necke that we sloope with our head suffering him to order vs to his will that euerie one giue himselfe wholie thereto and that we be all confounded when hee speaketh and haue no other affection and desire in vs but to serue and honour him and to subiect our selues altogether to his guiding and direction Loe why God hath so magnified his lawe when it was first published Hee might well haue spoken without casting out flames of fire without making the mountaine to smoke without hauing so darke and obscure a cloude but hee would vse these miracles that the people shoulde tremble being stroken with an exceeding great feare And therefore let vs note that hee would hereby leade vs vnto that which the Prophete Esaie speaketh That his spirite shall not rest but vppon them which tremble at his woorde For this is the thing wherein hee will proue our obedience towardes him namelie that when he speaketh wee receiue without anie contradiction or gainsaying what soeuer hee shall say that we account it good for vs and agree therevnto and say Amen not onelie with the mouth but also with the heart that in our whole life we serue obeie him For this is the seruice which GOD requireth and wherewith hee will be honoured namelie that we declare what obedience we beare vnto his woorde But because we are herein so hard and so heauie that rather wee drawe cleane backwarde than bende the necke to carrie his yoke it is needfull that we be ayded and set forwarde by such meanes as are here mentioned And therefore let vs note that this flame of â—ire appeared not then to serue and instruct them onelie which sawe it but that at this day the lawe of God must by this testimonie witnesse be authorized and made authentike and that the remembrance hereof should remaine so fresh in our memorie that when we shal call to minde this which happened for one time we be humbled vnder the maiestie of our God and that when we would proudly and presumptuouslie lift vp our selues against him this fire which then burned to feare the people the thicke darke cloude likewise come before our eyes that we remember also howe the mount was seene to smoke that all this may be to holde vs in such a fright and feare that all loftinesse and hautinesse of ours be beaten downe that we may bethink vs to come and present our selues to our God to bee led by him whither he will and that we may followe most willinglie whither soeuer we shal be called of him Ye see then wherevnto we must referre this which is here touched of the smoke of the flame of fire and of the thicke cloud And withall let vs note that when God appeared in a whirlewind and in an obscure and darke cloud this was to represse and keepe downe the curiositie of men It is true as we haue alreadie touched that GOD speaketh to be vnderstoode that he vseth no doubtfull and ambiguous wordes that he fetcheth no long circumstances as we say but manifesteth and openeth his will so clerelie and plainlie that the fault shal be no where but in vs if we bee not perfectlie instructed therein if wee will but lende our eares to heare him But in the meane time wee must not bring with vs such a foolishe curiositie as to inquire beyonde measure of what wee list as wee see men inclined to such a foolishe ambition that their eares are alwayes itching and they will say I would knowe this and that Nowe beholde howe our Lorde God opposeth him selfe contrarilie and saieth Will you knowe this and that Loe a thicke cloude which hindereth you consider of this obscuritie and darkenesse which you see So let vs learne that if wee will bee good scholers vnder God we must not loose the bridle to our owne fantasies to be inquisitiue after that which ought to be hidden from vs but let vs content our selues with that which shal be spoken vnto vs in the name of God and let vs waite for that day wherein we shall haue a full manifestation of the rest which is nowe incomprehensible brieflie let vs be ignorant of that which God will not declare vs For this ignorance surmounteth all the knowledge and wisedome of the world namelie when we desire to knowe no more than our Lord permitted and graunted vnto vs Now let vs come vnto that which Moses addeth he saith That the lawe was written in two tables of stone that it was deliuered to him When mention is made of two tables we must call to minde that which hath bene said handled heretofore that is that God could well haue written the whole law in one stone but he would write it in two that this distinction being made we might so much the better comprehend that which is conteined in the lawe For we see our Lorde hath so chewed those things for vs which are there conteined that we might not alledge that he speaketh in to high a language for vs to vnderstand For as much as there are two principall points in our life our Lord hath diuided his law into two tables namelie that
the worde of god Therfore when the God of Israel is called One God it is as much as if Moses did make comparison betweene the God which published his lawe as before he was manifested vnto his seruant Abraham and to the other Patriarchs would oppose him against all the gods which the world imagined As God in all times hath bene called vpon this name hath bene common among the Painims But what The Painims haue so wandered that albeit euery one hath saide I adore and worship God yet what was this but their owne dreames and fantasies For when men take vpon them to worshippe God when they haue no knowledge of him there is no doubt but they worshippe idols The Turkes at this day will say that they worship God Creator of the heauens and of the earth but this is but an idol which they worshippe And how so They name him Creator of the heauens and of the earth they haue no images It is true But yet haue they but an idol in stead of God because they will not receiue our Lorde Iesus Christ who is the liuelie image of God his Father And we knowe what Saint Iohn saieth that he which denieth the Sonne he denieth the Father Therefore they haue not God but an idol As much is to be saide of the Iewes The Iewes will brag much that they haue the law and that they worship the God of Abraham of Isaac and of Iacob but what They are Apostataes they haue renounced the lawe of God when they haue reiceted and refused Iesus Christ who is the soule of the lawe It is he by whom God the father will manifest and open himselfe vnto vs it is he in whom hee will be worshipped And againe he saieth Risse the Sonne whom I haue sent you And againe Who so honoureth not the Sonne the same honoureth not the Father which hath sent him Let vs therefore diligently note that Moses would in this place make comparison betweene the GOD which hath declared himselfe in his worde and all the gods which are renowned throughout the whole worlde shewing that all that is beside him is nothing but apishnesse and meere vanitie and lying And why For we cannot worship God aright except we haue first knowne him And wee must alwayes to this purpose remember that which Iesus Christ said vnto the woman of Samaria ye knowe not what ye worship When Iesus Christ vseth this word he doth as it were spit at all those seruices and worshippings which were then established There was no nation which vaunted not of seruing God and Iesus Christ reiecteth all that which men thought to be good and holie Ye knowe not saith he what ye worship Hee sheweth hereby that it is reqâ—isite and needefull there be made some manifest declaration of God we must not walke here at all aduentures but we must be assured what the God is whom wee serue and worship Now seeing God must be knowne of vs to be rightly serued and worshipped let vs consider whence this knowledge shall come and arise Shall it grow in our owne garden as we say Shall we obteine it by our owne labour and industrie Shall it bee lawfull for euerie one to thinke what shall seeme good vnto him to say I haue knowne God No no but GOD must declare and shew himselfe hee must approche and come neere vnto vs And so the onely meane to knowe GOD aright is this that wee bee taught and instructed in his woorde And loe why he saith The Lord thy god For this people had receiued the lawe and againe the couenaunt had bene made with their fathers GOD had separated this flocke from the rest of the whole worlde It is not then without cause that Moses here leadeth the people to the knowledge of God to the end they estraunge and keepe themselues from all the superstitions of the Painims that they haue nothing common with the vnfaithfull ones but that they know that wheras God hath manifested himselfe so familiarly vnto them they haue a most certeine and infallible truth Now if this hath bene saide of the time of the lawe it agreeth much better vnto vs For albeit God hath giuen a sufficient admonition vnto the Iewes that they bee not mingled among the pollusions of the Painims in their idolatries yet haue wee at this day a much more brighter clearenesse since the appearing of our Lorde Iesus Christ who is the liuelie image of GOD his Father as wee haue saide And wee may well agree vnto that which is written in the first of Saint Iohn None hath seene GOD at anie time but the Sonne which hath alwayes bene in the bosome of the Father hath reuealed him vnto vs The auncient Fathers haue had a knowledge as we haue said but this knowledge is accounted as none in respect of that which we haue at this day by the Gospel Since the Sunne of righteousnes shineth on vs behold God sheweth him selfe most familiar vnto vs And loe why the Prophet Esaie when he entreateth of the redemption which was to be made in the person of the sonne of God Behold him beholde him this is our GOD this is our Lord saieth he The Prophete crieth out This is this is our god He is not contented to say in one worde Beholde our GOD but hee speaketh as if the thing had bene present and that GOD should then appeare And howe is this said Was not God in the middest of his people For hee saide I will dwell in the middest of you And againe Beholde my rest Sion is the place of my habitation And againe he protesteth that hee will neuer depart thence that the people is his temple that they are his royall priesthoode Why then is it that the Prophet Esaie saieth Behold him behold him saith our God This is he this is he when our Lorde Iesus should come into the world This is because God reuealeth him selfe vnto vs in greater perfection There remaineth therefore lesse excuse for vs if wee at this day wander and holde not our selues to the pure trueth but that enerie one turne after his dreames to say It seemeth me so beholde what I finde to bee good Knowe we that all this is nothing that wee must returne to that certeintie of trueth which hath bene brought vnto vs by our Lorde Iesus Christ But the worlde is so farre from knowing of this that it seemeth all haue desired to despite and anger GOD that they haue deuised howe to turne their backe vnto him that they haue laboured to reiect and lay aside all subiection that they might haue leaue to remaine in their enormities and vurulie demeanours and that their wickednesse in the meane time might not bee perceiued The Iewes are vnexcusable as wee see howe the Prophetes reproche them that they haue wittinglie abandoned and put away GOD and that they can not excuse them selues as the wretched Painims saying That they haue heard nothing