shalt offer it peace 11 And if they aunswere thee peaceably and open vnto thee al the people that is in it shall bee tributarie vnto thee and serue thee 12 But if they will not make peace with thee but make warre with thee then shalt thou lay seege to it 13 And the Lord thy God will giue it into thy handes Thou shalt slea all the males in it with the edge of the sword 14 But the women the children and the cattel and al that is in the Citie besides and all the spoile thereof thou shalt take to thy selfe and thou shalt eat the spoyle of thine enimies which the Lord thy God giueth thee 15 After that manner shalt thou doe to all the Cities that are farre off from thee which are not of the Cities of this nation 16 But of the Cities of the nations which the Lord thy God giueth thee to inherite thou shalt not leaue any soule aliue 17 But thou shalt vtterly destroy theÌ„ namely the Hethites the Amorrhites the Chananites the Pheresites the Hiuites and the Iebusites as the Lord thy God hath commaunded thee 18 Least they teach you to doe according to all the abhominations which they haue done to their gods and so you sinne against the Lord your God IT might well seeme at the first blushe that wee haue no great need to haue y e doctrine expounded to vs which is conteyned heere bycause it declareth howe men ought to beehaue themselues in warfare But when all is well looked vppon wee shall finde that wee may gather good and profitable fruite to our instruction of the thinges that GOD hath commaunded his people heere For first wee see what a care hee had to teach those of whome hee had taken charge that they myght knowe howe to behaue themselueâ— in all thinges Nowe seeing thâ—t GOD hath such a care let vs learne â—o walke in his obedience not doubting but wee shall finde sufficient instruction in his worde whereby to rule our whole lyfe well I say that all they which yeeld themselues teachable vnto GOD and are ready to fashion themselues after his will shall finde sufficient in his worde wherewith to guide themselues aright without any want at all insomuch that whereas men are disordered in their dealinges and knowe not what to doe the cause thereof is that they submit not themselues wholly to GOD but take counsell by themselues and runne gadding heere and there whereas all they that seeke to be taught by Gods worde as well in matters of state as in priuate matters and as well in time of warre as in tyme of peace shall finde a perfect doctrine and such as is fitte for them The thing then which wee haue to marke vppon this text is that GOD woulde not faile them in any one point whom he had taken into his tuition But there is yet more For it may well seeme that where open warre is there all thinges should bee put to hauocke But our Lorde ment to shewe that all his seruauntes must alwayes brydle themselues yea euen where they seeme to haue most excessiue lybertie to breake the bondes of all humanitie and vprightnesse GOD sheweth that such as belong to him must euen in those cases keepe and mayntayne themselues vndefiled so as howesoeuer the worlde goe they must stande in continuall awe that no extremitie may driue them beyond their bondes but that they holde them still to this ground Wee must obey GOD. True it is that euen the heathen coulde skill to say that euen in tyme of warre it was not Lawefull to assault or beseege a Towne vntill they had offered it conditions of peace But yet wee see there was nothing but furie and crueltie for as soone as they were entered into armes they bare themselues in hand that it was Lawfull for them to beare all thinges downe before them without sparing GOD then ment to shewe heere that his people ought to bee so courteous as to spare their enemies euen in tyme of warre That is the thing which is conteyned heere A man shall finde in the bookes of the heathen that they also commended this vprightnesse that although there was iust cause of warre yet the shedding mans bloode was to bee forborne but this rule was not well kept And howesoeuer the case stande our Lorde hath heere separated his people from all the rest of the worlde shewing that they which are led by his worde must looke more straitely and narrowly to themselues than they that followe their naturall inclination and are not taught as they should be And nowe let vs come to the doctrine that is conteyned heere It is sayde When thou commest to a Citie to beseege it thou shalt offer them peace and if they yeeld or bee willing to fall to composition thou shalt receiue them to mercie so as no bloud shall bee shedde The inhabitants shall but onely bee subiect to thee and pay thee Tribune In so saying GOD sheweth that although there bee iust cause of warre yet must not men bee so whot and firie at the first dashe as to put all to the swoord and slaughter For howesoeuer the worlde goe Gen. 9.6 men are created after the Image of GOD and there must we beholde our nature Wherefore it must needes bee that wee are caryed away from all reason if the same witholde vs not and that wee haue no pitie of those which are our owne fleshe and bones Esa. 58.7 and which beare the marke of our GOD euen of the same GOD which hath fashioned vs after his own lykenesse If this say I bee not able to asswage our passions which myght carie vs away to crueltie it must needes be sayde that wee bee bereft of all reason and woorse than the brute beasts which knowe their owne kinde and doe not so deadly pursue one another That is the thing which wee haue to marke in the first place And hereof we may gather a good lesson expedient for vs all For heere God speaketh of those against whom he armeth his people But we cannot say the like of our enemies If a man haue done me all the wrong that is possible yea and haue euen sought my death yet doeth not that arme me to be auenged of him God doeth not giue mee leaue to requite like for like but I am commanded to render good for euill Howbeit the case standeth otherwise with Princes and Magistrates which haue the sword Rom. 12. â—â— for God hath set them in his owne stead to execute vengeance Ye see then that heere is a people armed with Gods authoritie as if God had sayde draw your swords for I dispence with you at this tyme so as ye may slea your enimies and it shall not be layde to your charge for a cryme When a warre is rightfull and God giueth men leaues it is a permission or priuilege which he granteth them And yet for all that he will not haue men to goe to it at alauenture
to reade it diligentlie to remember it faithfullie and to expresse it fruitfullie in thy conuersation to the glorie of God the profite of his people and the saluation of thine owne soule through Christ. In whom I rest alwaies Thine vnfayned T. W. the Lord his vnvvoorthie Seruaunt To all the faithfull which hold the holie faith of the true Catholike Church and generallie to all Christian Readers Greeting in Iesus Christ our Lord and GOD. Amen IT is not without cause that the psalme speaking of the great benefits which GOD had bestowed vpon the Iewes among whom was his Church at that time doth cheefly magnifie the grace which he had vttered towards them in deliuering vnto them the sure rule of his seruice the true maner of good life the right way of saluation aswell by the writings of Moses and other his seruants as also by the liuely voyce of them agreeing with their writings For without that all the abundance and prosperitie which they could haue had had beene but as records against them to haue increased stil the measure of their condemnation Therefore hauing spoken of Gods defending of the gates of the holy citie Ierusalem of his blessing vpon the inhabiters thereof of the peace and quietnesse that was in all coasts about it and of his carefulnesse in furnishing it with all things necessarie for the maintenance of the whole people finally he setteth downe the principal point whereon the sweetnesse and assurance of all the rest hung saying He hath giuen forth his word vnto Iacob his statutes and iudgements vnto Israell And this benefite was at that time peculiar to the citie of Ierusalem and to the people that came of Abraham according as it is said expresly in the same text that God had not delt so with any other nation nor giuen them knowledge of his iudgements But we know that Iesus Christ hath by his comming made the same grace to extend to al nations of the earth and that looke whatsoeuer he had promised by his Prophets in the holy scriptures he hath performed it by his holy Apostles who haue preached the Gospell faithfully as their writings do autentikely fully and sufficiently witnesse This aduertisement therefore belongeth as now to all churches of our lord Iesus Christ in what countries soeuer they be so as they ought to acknowledge Gods mercie in that he teacheth them familiarly and in such language as they may vnderstand by the reading and preaching of his worde For so little ought the long interceassing of so great a benefite inforced through the tyrannie of Antichrist to make vs to holde scorne of it now that God renueth the course thereof againe that contrariwise wee should thinke it the more sweete and amiable praysing God for restoring vs the thing through his great mercie which Satans vnderlings had wickedly bereft vs of acknowledging that God had beene too sore prouoked by the sinnes of the worlde when he punished it in such sort and seruing him with such obedience according to his worde as we may not prouoke him hereafter to vse the like vengeance against vs or our children after vs. And no doubt but this lesson is told vs throughout the whole Scripture from the beginning to the end of it and specially in the bookes of the New Testament wherin the perfection of all learning is throughly comprised wel written and faithfully inrolled Neuerthelesse forasmuchas the books of Moses the seruant of god are as the fountain from whence all after cōmers that is to wit both the Prophets and the Apostles haue drawne water you will not beleeue how greatly it is to the benefit and behoofe of the Church to confer them with the other books of holy writ And for the same cause hath God by his prouidence preserued them so woonderfully from so many dangers through so long a race of so many hundred yeares For there besides other things we see the antiquity of our faith and that the substance of true religion hath alwaies been one yea and that the very forme of it hath euer tended to the perfection that is fully and infallibly shewed vs in the holy writings of the New Testament And in very deede whereas S. Peter saith generally of all the Prophets that the faithfull do well to take heede to their wordes that they may go foreward in Christianitie it is full certaine that therin he comprehendeth Moses as the foremost of them al. And in asmuch as he wrote of Iesus Christ as Christ himself auoucheth in expresse words in y e fifth Chapter of S. Iohn it may well be concluded according also as saith the Apostle to the Hebrues that his speaking and writing was to beare record of the things that were to be spoken afterward namely by the son of God his Apostles as we reade them written in the new Testament Now among the books of Moses al such as can skil of thē wil easily grant that as Deuteronomie is the last so it teacheth whereto the other books tend shewing the meane how to fare the better by them yea and conteining as it were the summe of thē Therfore it is very likely that that was the cause which moued our welbeloued brother or rather good father Master Iohn Caluin that most faithfull minister of the Gospell of Iesus Christ to preach and expound the same in the Church bicause that by his setting forth therof he should after a sort cōprehend the other next three also so farre forth as the vnderstanding of them should be needfull for the people His sermons therfore were faithfully gathered in order like as his sermons were which he preached vpon other books of y e scripture wherof many haue beene printed here already And in the meane time til all the rest of his sermons may by Gods helpe be brought to light it hath seemed good that these same should be put forth first in the meane while the impression wherof should not neede any commendation or preface but that the long continuance of custome requireth it For as many as haue heard true report of the person and skil of that good man Master Iohn Caluin wil be sufficiently drawne to the reading of his sermons by finding his name here set vnto them assuring themselues that they shal not finde any thing in them but such as agree with Gods spirite that is to say profitable good and holy things As touching the principall and notablest points that are to be found here there might very well be made a rehearsall of them to giue the readers some tast of the whole booke of the said sermōs at their first entry But forasmuch as it is better that euery man should hie him to the reading of them and to heare the preacher himself speake as it were in his owne person we purpose not to enter into such discourse which might peraduenture be somewhat with the longest Onely we will touch one point wherof some word hath beene cast forth already heretofore
bicause it is and euer hath been one of the first and surest groundes of the true religion and is as ye would say a necessary appurtenance to the first commandement For whosoeuer mingleth the worshipping of Images with the seruing of God doth as much as in him lyeth to set forth other gods than the true God And it is a maruelous thing that the world becommeth neuer the wiser for all the great number of punishments which God hath powred out and stil powreth out to warne vs to come to repentance For within these fiftie yeres since which time God of his grace hath set vp the preaching of the gospell in diuers places besides his sufficient smiting of the people of the earth with his roddes in former yeres he hath also made them feele his scourges diuers wayes in punishing their contempt of his holy doctrine Yet notwithstanding we hope that God conditionally that we continue in prayer wil one day shew by more aboundant effect that he hath heard the prayers of his sillie faithfull ones euen in this behalfe and draw the rest of his churches out of the miserable desolation which hath lasted now too long by reason of our sinnes And hereof we haue good hansel in the furtherance that he hath giuen already to the gospell notwithstanding that Satan hath spit out his spite against it on all sides For albeeit that the holy doctrine doe sounde in the eares of the poore people in diuers places the sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords supper be ministred purely the praises of God do ring shirlely to mens vnderstanding in the psalms and songs and the father is woorshipped in the name of Iesus Christ our hope and the onely aduocate of wretched sinners yet are there a number which hope or at leastwise wish that as the sunne hath been eclipsed this yere so there might be an euerlasting eclips of the preaching of the gospell but by the helpe of God and of our great day sunne Iesus Christ they shal be deceaued And in the meane time while Gods kingdome may inlarge it selfe stil further out here below we pray al such as are desirous to haue the vnderstanding and vse of the doctrine of this godlie booke of Moses to take the paine to reade these present Sermons of the faithfull seruaunt of God Master Iohn Caluin of whom like as the speeche and pen serued the Church as long as he liued whatsoeuer some Balaams bable to the contrarie so we beleeue y t his writings wil by Gods help edifie al men continuallie hereafter Moreouer it were a needles thing to warne men and to pray them to take heede that they make not the Printer to lose the fruite of his labour and his cost which he was faine to be at in the printing of this present worke were it not for the greedie and vnsatiable couetousnesse that reigneth nowadaies in men of that trade by reason whereof diuerse times they ouerrun one another without any honestie or conscience Surelie we had forborne to giue this warning and had leuer to haue let the Printers alone to deale with their owne peculiar cases as they listed among themselues if it were not for one reason which inforceth vs to fall purposelie into that matter which is that in some places they not onelie print againe in such hast the bookes of that excellent teacher Master Iohn Caluin that were erst printed here as it is pitifull to see the workemanship of the imprinting so ill corrected but also moreouer some haue gone so farre as to print in Master Caluins name the vnperfect copies which they haue gotten by peecemeale or stealth where they could come by them We knowe not what they meane by it but surelie they doe wrong both to the author and to the Church of God Yea and they open a gappe which may be dangerous in time to come whensoeuer any man will foyst in bookes stained with wicked doctrine to make them passe foorth vnder the name of a faithful seruant of God as euery man knoweth hath bin done to diuerse ancient doctors of the Church Insomuch that euen S. Paul warneth the Thessalonians to beware of letters Epistles that were made to run abrode in the Churches vnder his name as though he had been the very author of them Truely so long as it shall please our good God to preserue vs the Church wherein he of his grace hath made vs shepeherds it is our duetie to find fault with such as wil needs father any other bookes vpon Caluin than his owne or by their false additions corrupt those which he hath made truelie But yet is it much better to preuent y e danger aforehand to eschew the occasions thereof as neere as may be Wherefore in Gods name we beseech all such as haue any written copies specially of the said authors sermons not yet printed to forbeare the putting of them forth vntil they haue first bin duely conferred with the originals which are here in y e keeping of one of the Deacons And as touching them that are minded to print againe any worke of y e said author that is printed alreadie we pray them to haue regard to the common profit edifying of the Church rather than to the furtherance of their owne peculiar gaine And here withal we commend you all to the grace of God The Lorde Iesus be with you who is of y e seed of Dauid according to the flesh the verie son of the holy virgin Marie the very Christ God blessed for euermore as S. Paul hath expreslie written and so haue we alwayes beleeued do beleeue all of vs. Amen Deare brethren we commend our selues to your prayers From Geneua this moneth of Ianuarie 1567. Your humble brethren the Ministers of Gods word The Deacons and disposers of the goods that are giuen in almes to the poore strangers that are come hither into the citie of Geneua for Gods words sake to all faithfull and true Christians helth and peace from our Lord Iesus FOrasmuch as our good faithfull shepherds the ministers of this church peraduenture fearing to be ouerlong or tedious to their readers do in the end of their preface made to these sermons but as it were glauncing lie touch one point which notwithstanding is of great importance for the poore straungers that are come into this towne to our seeming it would be thought neither amisse nor strange if we for our dueties sake declared the thing somewhat more at large which they spake in one word cōcerning the printing of the sermons of our late good father M. Iohn Caluin Nowe then for the better vnderstanding of the whole you must consider that from the yere of our Lord 1549 forth on the late M. Dennis Ragueneawe being fled hither gaue himselfe to the gathering of the Sermons word for word which M. Iohn Caluin did ordinarilie make and that with such swiftnes and cunning through the vse of certain notes shapes as few words
dearely Thus you see after what maner wee must put in vre this text of the possessing of the land which he hath promised vs and purchased for us Besides this when wee heare this saying that it is at our commaundement let vs vnderstand that it were a disanulling of the death and passion of our Lord Iesus Christ if wee should not bee fully resolued of this inheritaunce according also as Saint Paule sheweth Rom. 10.7 If thou say who is he that shall goe downe into the deepe it is all one as if thou shouldest fetche vp Christ againe from death Then if wee imagine with our selues alas wee bee wretched creatures there is nothing but vtter weakenesse in vs euill doeth so ouermaister that wee wote not what to do the diuell tormenteth vs on the one side and on the other side wee bee so fraile as is pitifull to see and wee bee in trouble and vnquietnesse if wee stande herevpon as quite out of heart and discouraged Saint Paule sayeth it is all one as if we beleeued not that Iesus Christ dyed for vs. For why The death and Passion that he suffered are no trifling thing but a thing of verie great price Nowe then wee must take it to bee of power as it is so that although we see our selues in the mids of bottomlesse pits yea that very often and commonly insomuch that when wee bee out of one gulfe by and by wee enter into another and therewithall Satan hath such power against vs and wee on the other side are so feeble that we can scarcely stirre one finger yet let vs not forbeare to assure our selues that the inheritaunce belongeth to vs still for that is the honour which wee must yeeld to our Lord Iesus Christ. But therewithall let vs go foreward still After what maner Let vs call to minde howe the Apostle saieth that like as our Lord Iesus Christ went out of the Citie as reiected out of the companie of men Heb. 13.12 so we must not disdaine to become like him and to beare the shame and reproche of his crosse for it becommeth the members to be fashioned like to their body And therefore let vs determine to goe after him For those are the true markes whereby he knoweth vs to bee his And for performance thereof let vs vnderstand that wee must forsake the world in general yea and our selues too For the matter standeth not alonely vpon going out of the world True it is that so long as it pleaseth God to haue vs lodge here here wee must abide but yet howsoeuer we fare wee must euer haue one foote vp readie to goe hence whensoever it shall please God to take vs to him so that if wee will be heires of the heauenly kingdome wee must be but pilgrims and straungers in this world Yea and which more is wee must go out of our selues that is to say we must not leane to our owne will and wit but wee must ridde our selues of all selfweening and couet nothing but to goe vnto God And if the world shake vs off and make a mocking stocke of vs as we see now adayes how the poore Christians are lightly esteemed so that they bee taken to bee as the of-scouring of the world or rather as myre dung as saieth S. Paul I say if wee bee so reiected of the whole world 1. Cor. 4.13 let vs beare it patiently For why Iesus Christ went out of the Citie Ierusalem bearing the reproch and curse of the whole world vpon him and therefore let vs bee readie to bee fashioned like vnto him Also therewithal let vs determine to separate our selues from all the vncleannesse that reigneth euerie where now adayes in the world And forasmuch as we can not possesse the heauenly heritage vnlesse wee ouercome this doubting and fearefulnesse which plucke vs backe insomuch that if our mindes runne still vpon our owne feeblenesse truely wee shall not neede any other thing to shake vs downe whereas on the other side if we haue our eye vppon our captaine Iesus Christ who alonely hath vanquished all feare yea and euen death and the diuell all his power then may wee boldly goe on still to ouercome all lets that may hinder vs or turne vs aside from following God whithersoeuer he calleth vs Let vs shut our eyes against all that euer may turne vs out of the right way and let vs not doubt but that God wil alwayes be our guide and worke in such wise as he will outgoe all our desires yea and all the hope that we can conceiue of him Nowe therefore let vs kneele downe in the presence of our good God with acknowledgement of our sinnes praying him to make vs so to feele them that being cast down in our selues wee may resort wholly vnto him an acknowledging our selues to bee wretched offenders that haue deserued his wrath and vengeance yea euen w tout euer being able to recouer out of endlesse death and cursednes flee for refuge to the redemption that is purchased for vs by the bloudshed of his onely sonne And that seeing our Lord Iesus Christ hath payed all our debtes to discharge vs of them and to beare the condemnation that was due vnto vs and forasmuch as he offereth vs daily the fruite and effect of his death and passion we may not doubt but that he will accomplish the thing that he hath begunne in vs and by his holy spirit make the power of his resurrection auaileable in vs to the end that we may leade a new life and bee stablished in him more more till we be quite rid of all the corruptions of our flesh to bee taken vp into his kingdome That it may please him to graunt this grace not onely c. On Saturday the xiij of Aprill 1555. The sixth Sermon vpon the first Chapter 22 Then came you all vnto me and said let vs send men before vs to search out the land for vs and to bring vs word by what way we shall go vp into it and into what Cities we shall enter 23 That saying liked me well and therevpon I tooke twelue men among you of euery tribe one 24 And they departed and went vp into the Mountaines and came to the riuer of Escol and searched out the land 25 And they tooke of the fruits of the Land in their handes and brought them to vs and brought vs word againe and said The Land which the Lorde our God giueth vs is good 26 Yet notwithstanding you would not goe vp but were disobedient to the commaundement of the Lord your God 27 And you murmured in your tentes and saide bicause the Lorde hateth vs therefore hath he made vs to come out of the Countrie of Egypt to deliuer vs into the hand of the Amorrhytes to cause vs to be destroyed 28 How shall wee goe vp Our brethren haue made our heartes to quaile by saying The people are moe in nomber and taller of stature than wee The
they were begotten of incest yet was hee chastised as he deserued for his tendering of his owne ease and commoditie too much Hereby wee bee taught to brydle our desires and not to be ouer greedie vppon any fleshly commoditie when wee see we may haue it at aduauntage If God giue it vs let vs accept it but let vs beware that our affections be not too inordinate as they coÌ„monly be Thus much concerning the wordes wherewith Moses vpbraided the children of Gad Ruben and the halfe tribe of Manasses Now herewithall we haue to note this saying of his That he gaue them the Countrie in partision for it should seeme that he taketh vpoÌ„ him here to doe that which belonged to God What was Moses Was the land his to giue By what title could he bee named Lord of it He is in that respect but as a member of y e body True it is that God honoured him so much as to make him the head of his people Psal. â—â— But in the meane while how is the Land named Gods rest that is to say the land that God had assigned his people to rest in It is not sayde to bee the rest of Moses but the rest of GOD. Seeing then that this land was in the hande of GOD shoulde Moses boast himselfe of the giuing thereof Wee must not thinke this straunge for when Gods seruaunts speake so they chalendge not aught to themselues but shewe in what trust they be put and what charge is committed vnto them by meanes whereof they separate not themselues from God If a man be sent from a prince with authoritie to doe the thinges that hee hath in commission hee taketh vppon him the name of the Prince as in way of borrowing and saieth I ordeine this I appoint this I commaunde this I will haue this executed And he that speaketh after that manner meaneth not to derogate his masters authoritie Euen so doe Gods seruauntes for they knowe that hee hath ordeined them as his instrumentes and imployeth them in his seruice so as they doe nothing of themselues their master is hee that ouer ruleth them That is the cause why Moses saieth that hee hath giuen them their portion yea verily not taking himselfe as another mortal man but as one whom God had set in his own place and which did all thinges in the name of God And so yee see what wee haue to beare in minde It is a verie profitable doctrine for vs for it extendeth further than so And for proofe therof if wee had not the same rule what woulde become of the gouernement of the Church Wherefore are wee baptised â—ph 5.26 but to bee washed from all our spottes that wee may bee pure and cleane before God that wee may be members of Iesus Christ y t we may be clothed w t his righteousnes to be short that we may be renewed by the holy ghost â— Cor. 12.13 â—al 3.27 â—om 6.4 â—ol 2.12 â— 1 Nowe lyeth it in y e mortall man that baptiseth vs to giue vs al these things No if we consider him but as a man in his owne peculiar person But sith it is Gods will that the ministers of his word should baptise in his name baptisme must needs haue that vertue notwithstanding that it be deliuered vs by the hande of a man And againe as touching the Lords supper we see howe our Lorde Iesus Christ doeth shew himselfe there to be the foode of our soules â—att 26.26 Iohn 6.51 Nowe is there any creature that can make vs partakers of so great a benefite No surely But it is certeine that the supper is not a vaine thing therefore when we come to receiue it wee must consider that the minister though he be a man is not separated from Iesus Christ. And in the preaching of Gods worde wee see the like â—â—ke 1.16 â— 79. It is saide that the ministers are sent to inlighten the blinde to deliuer prisoners to forgiue sinnes and to turne mens heartes Howe so for those are thinges that belong all onely vnto God And in verie deede if a man shoulde goe about to bereaue him of the least part of those thinges it were an vtter defacing of his maiestie For nothing is more peculiar to him than the forgiuing of sinnes Likewise doeth he reserue to himselfe the turning of mens heartes Yet notwithstanding hee communicateth all those titles to such as he hath ordeined to beare abrode his worde 〈◊〉 â— 27. 〈◊〉 5.21 〈◊〉 18.37 〈◊〉 31.18 telling them that he separateth not himself from them but rather that hee vseth them as his handes and instruments And in this case men must not muse vpon the thing that they see but they must lift vp their eyes aloft by faith We see then what rule wee ought to drawe out of this text where Moses saith that hee gaue the lande in possession Namely that he treateth not of his owne person to vaunt himselfe but onely sheweth that hee had put the tribes of Gad and Ruben and the halfe tribe of Manasses in possession of those two kingdomes by Gods authoritie according to the commission that he had giuen him Howbeit to the ende that the profitablenesse of this doctrine may bee the better knowen let vs marke in one worde that it expresseth vnto vs the power that is in Gods worde namely that it is not a fleeting sounde but that it hath speedy execution accordingly as we see that when the Prophets threaten the citie Ierusalem Ier. 4.5.16 and 32.2 they say they haue besieged it and beaten it down alreadie And howe is that By dreames and visions This should seeme to be a plaine mockerie Yea but in the ende it appeared that it was not a rolling of their tongues onely but that they should not haue had a greater meane or power to rase the Citie of Ierusalem though they had had a great hoste of men For by what meanes did the enemies bring it to passe By vertue of the Prophesies So on the contrarie parte when they speake of making the people to prosper their manner of speeche is that all impedimentes are remooued Esa. 37.33 and their enemies ouercome And howe is that Because Gods worde is vaine So then let vs vnderstande that it is greatlie to our profite to bee tolde that when Gods ministers speake they cast not foorth a fading sounde but such a one as is matched with effecte and therefore let vs bee edified thereby to our saluation Sith wee knowe that the remission of sinnes is not preached vnto vs in vaine it ought to assure vs. Come wee to a Sermon Is Gods grace offered vs Is it tolde vs that Iesus Christ hath made amendes for vs to ridde vs out of the cursednesse wherein wee were When wee bee certified of these thinges it is all one as if they were put into our handes Why so For when GOD sendeth messengers to tell vs his will hee matcheth such force
but wee must submit our selues wholly in all points to y t which he saith Thus yee see what we haue remember vpon this place And herewithall let vs marke when this was treated of For it is not without cause that Moses speaketh of this instruction Why so For if wee bee not subdewed it is hard for vs to submit our selues to God nay rather we draw cleane backe from him Therefore must our Lorde bee faine to correct this loftinesse in vs and when he seeth vs after that sort either rebellious or stubborne or that wee bee dull vppon the spurre hee must vse such meanes as hee knoweth to bee fit to reclaime vs withall Wee see howe Moses saieth heere that the wonders which were wrought at the publishing of the Lawe serued as it were for a nurturing to the intent that the people shoulde no more be so vnruly as they had beene before but become more fitte to be taught But this vice reigned not among the Iewes onely it is to be found continually among al men Therfore let vs learne to make our own profite of the thinges that our Lorde hath giuen vs for the authorising of his word that we play not the wood beastes but behaue our selues as meek sheepe and lambes to hearken to the voice of our shepherd This is the thing in effect which wee haue to gather vpon this place And now he saith Because God loued thy fathers therefore hath he chosen their seedes after them howbeit that he say thy seede after him Moses chaungeth here the number and not without cause for after he had spoken of the fathers hee returneth to one alone that is to wit to Abraham because it was he with whom God made the couenant And againe it serueth to magnifie the grace that is mentioned here as shal be declared anon more at large The effect of y e thing y t Moses intendeth to tell y e people is that it is a great shame for thē and y t they be vnexcusable if they know not the goodnes of their God And why Because God of his owne free mercy chose thē not for that they were better than other nations as shal be shewed more at length hereafter or for that there was more noblenes worthines or vertue in them but for that it pleased him to loue their fathers Nowe we see that the meaning of Moses was as if he shold haue said thus You haue heere an inestimable benefite aboue all people namely that God vouchsafeth to reigne among you that he hath sanctified you to himselfe that you bee his Churche Exod. 19.6 1. Pet. 2 9. that you bee his flocke that you bee his children and as it is saide in another place that you be a kingly priesthood Assure your selues this is not giuen you for any desert of yours for haue you deserued aught at Gods hand Are ye better than al y e of the worlde No why then hath God giuen you such priuiledge Not for any thing that he hath foūd in you but because it pleased him of his owne good will And whereof came that Euen of his choosing of your forefathers You were chosen of him before you were borne And what was the cause that he chose your forefathers Euen his owne loue saith he that is to say because hee marked them of his owne free mercie to shoule them out from the rest of the world yea euen at such time as Abraham was barren and alreadie striken in yeeres Rom. 4.19 Hebr. 11.12 and as good as decayed and halfe deade when as yet hee had no issue at all And yet for all this God chose him so as that poore old fellowe became the welspring of your forefathers Seeing then that God hath chosen you after such a sort yee see there is none other cause of the comming of saluation vnto you but onely his meere goodnesse Now therefore consider how much you be bound to your God and bee not vnthankfull to him neither suffer such a benefite to slip from you so as yee should be bereft thereof through your owne lewdnes and vnthankfulnes This in effect is the doctrine that is conteined in this place Nowe that we may fare the better by it wee haue to marke first of all that when God calleth vs to be of his Church so as he maketh vs partakers of the Gospell and of the things depending vpon the same it is not for y t we went to him aforehād but because he hath chosē vs. The word Chose is set down here to expresse the better that that thing came not of the people themselues but that God was the first beginner therof That is one point which wee ought to marke wel For it is not onely here that the holy Ghost speaketh thereof but all the whole scripture is full of that doctrine namely of telling vs that we must not seeke the cause of our saluation in our selues as who shoulde say wee were better than other men 1. Cor. 12.4 Wee see that God giueth not his graces indifferently to all men but that to set the greater shewe vppon his goodnesse hee giueth that thing to one man which hee denieth to another Wee see that most men are destitute of the Gospell at this day and we see that euen where it is preached most folke are as good as blinde and deafe still Nowe when the Gospell is preached in any place it is a kinde of choosing and it is the verie same that Moses speakes of here Seeing then that God causeth his worde to raine vppon vs so as we haue our fill of it euerie day and in the meane season other much greater richer and nobler Cities want it and are destitute of it let vs vnderstande that this so great benefite commeth not of our owne seeking neither haue we obtained it by our owne trauell or policie but it is GOD that hath chosen vs to it of his owne mercie Marke that for one point Eph. 2.8 Againe whereas it pleaseth him to giue vs faith so as we tast of his word and are throughly fed with it and it toucheth vs inwardly at the very heart let vs vnderstand that y t is a second sort of chosing which god maketh of vs. So then let vs yelde him his deserued praise for in withholding it from him we bee traitors to him and wee bereaue him of the thing that belongeth alonely vnto him and in so doing wee set vp our selues as Idols in his steede For a man cannot take a greater honour to himselfe than to beare himselfe in hand that he is the author of his own saluation and that it is he that preuenteth God If wee imagin so it is a defacing of Gods glorie And therfore let vs beare this lessō well in mind Howbeit forasmuch as men are malicious when they cannot abolish Gods praise altogether they darken it as much as they can Moses excludeth here expresly all worthinesse of persons and all desert of workes
to the expounding of Moseses wordes and it will suffice vs for thereuppon wee easily gather a lesson greatly to our behoofe The wordes are If a man that hath slaine his neighbour of prepensed malice and lying in waite for him doe get him into one of those fraunchised Cities Wherein wee see that the wicked doe alwayes seeke to abuse the thinges that are ordeyned for the succour of good men and are boldest in taking the benefite of them The Magistrats therefore must haue an eye thereunto and beware that the wicked abuse not the things that are graunted for the releefe of Gods children for that is too great a skorning of Lawes And it is not without cause that our Lorde speaketh of it heere for it sheweth that the like kinde of corrupt dealing hath beene in all ages and we must not maruell at it seeing that the world is not amended since but rather appaired Let vs looke well about vs therefore that if a man which hath committed any misdeede doe go about to hide himselfe or to scape away by some vndirect meanes it may not auaile him That is the thing which wee haue to marke in the first place And whereas it is said that the Iudges shall pull him away it serueth to shewe that it is not ynough for men to make good Lawes statutes but there must also be corage to execute them there must bee a stoute and constant minde in those that beare authoritie For although that Lawes be proclaimed by the sound of the trumpet and written of recorde with neuer so great solemnitie yet are they but deade and all is nothing worth except that they which sit in the seate of Iustice haue the constancie that our Lorde inioyneth heere and be stout in maintaining the things that are inacted that men may not laugh them to skorne as we see that the wicked sort do which make but a mocke at them If a Lawe haue once beene proclaimed they beare themselues in hande that it will be buried within three or foure dayes after Yee see then howe it is a good and profitable warning for all such as haue the sworde of iustice in hande to haue this stoutnesse of minde and constancie And for as much as it is not to be founde in men for it is a speciall vertue attributed to the spirite of God let such as are in office beseech God to strengthen them so as they may vse force of hande when neede requireth and not be afraide when they see such troubles as might abash them but stoutly withstande them yea and also outstande them That is one thing further which wee haue to marke vpon this place Now this thing is to be applyed likewise to y e instructing of euery of vs. I say let priuate persons also looke well to the repressing of euill doings and that with such stoutnesse that although they be threatned to put them in feare yet it may not turne them away from doing their dutie For what a thing were it if we should bee afraide at euery turne The lifting vp of a mans litle finger would scarre vs and though we were neuer so willing to doe our duetie yet if any mā stepped afore vs to turne vs from our purpose euery word of his mouth as I saide would bee ynough to put vs out of hart But the case concerneth the seruing of our God wherein we must ouercome all the assaults of Satan and all the impediments that the world can deuise Nowe if it behooue vs to fight so valiantly against Satan all his indeuors should we be afraide of men or stand in dreade of them Should they so scarre vs that we should leaue our God behind So thē to the intent we may do our duetie let vs learne to strengthen our selues And at one word it stādeth vs in hande to marke wel that no man shal euer discharge his duetie towardes God except he inforce himselfe and haue such a couragious constancie as may furmount al temptations and that is a thing greatly for our behoofe to marke For a hundred times a day shall we haue occasions to thrust vs out of the way we resist them full coldly Againe if we be to do any good wee make excuses and say I would faine do my duetie but I see such an impediment and by that meanes I am helde backe Because that they which are vnder the tyranny of the Pope in these dayes cannot haue leaue to doe well and to serue God purely without putting of their liues in hazard they beare themselues in hande that they bee discharged when they can make this excuse to say I woulde faine doe otherwise but I am not suffered to do it it shall neuer come to account before God And we neede not to go farre for proofe of the matter Euen here where there is no persecution to hinder the seruing of God but rather incoragement to men to do wel yet neuerthelesse wee haue many distresses For Satan is suttle ynough to finde euerie day newe inuentions to turne vs from the right way What remaineth then but to go to it with force and to doe our indeuour to serue our God in such wise that if we meete with any lets to turne vs aside they may bee ouercome by the constancie and corage that I spake of which it behoueth vs to require of the holy Ghost Furthermore let vs marke that the offender must bee deliuered into the hande of him that is to reuenge the bloudshedde or else of him that demaundeth iustice Whereby we may perceiue that God alloweth no priuate reuenges For wee knowe what rule is giuen vs in the holy scripture My brethren Rom. 12.19 saith S. Paul forbeare reuenge yea desire it not but put it altogether into the handes of the heauenly Iudge to whome it belongeth Matt. 5.44 Nay which more is wee bee commaunded to render good for euill to pray for them that curse vs to doe good to our enemies and to such as persecute vs. Sith it is so then wee must assure our selues and be fully resolued of it that our Lorde will haue our affections bridled so as we desire not any reuenge though cause thereof bee ministred but rather striue to ouercome the euill by doing good Lo whereunto God calleth vs. And why then is it saide heere that the offender shall bee put into the hande of him that requireth Iustice Let vs note that the Lawes which are made for ciuill or outwarde gouernement serue not to ouerrule mens affections they be things that go asunder Trueth it is that they bee not repugnant neither is there any contrarietie in them but we must haue the discretion to consider that when God spake as king of Israel and made statutes but for cōmon policie he respected not the spirituall perfection that is contained in the law which is our rule to all holinesse and righteousnesse A Iudge therefore may well agree to one that requireth Iustice at his hande
pastime Yet did hee see all the worlde drowned and destroyed For hee sawe it by faith because God had threatened that it shoulde bee so Nowe the same threate haue we and therewithall wee haue the proofe of it also euen in this that our Lorde punished these nations that are spoken of here at the end of foure hundred yeares when they thought not of it ne tooke anie heed of it insomuch that if a man had then threatened them any such thing they woulde haue blurted out their tongues and shaken their heads at him But their inditement was framed in heauen iudgement was giuen vpon them alreadie and the Iudge had power might to put it in execution in spite of their wilfull stubbornesse And therefore let the sight hereof make vs to stand in awe of our God And when he letteth vs alone in quiet and spareth vs let vs not thinke our selues to bee scaped his hande but let vs enter into account and euerie man quicken vp himselfe and looke into his owne faults and that in such wise as we may preuent his wrath and let vs not tarie till he be armed against vs to proclayme war against vs but let vs preuent the rigor of his iudgement that by comming vnto him whereas we shoulde else finde him our Iudge in the end wee may finde him to bee our pitifull and kinde hearted father Nowe let vs kneele downe before the maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faultes praying him to make vs feele them continually more and more And for asmuch as there is none of vs which hath not prouoked his wrath exceedingly so as we be all guiltie before him let vs seeke to returne to the refuge of his mercie And seeing there is no meanes to come at him except he reach vs out his hande and drawe vs by his holy spirit let vs not refuse to goe to him when he calleth vs nor tarie till y e gate be shut against vs but let vs vse the opportunitie of the time when he causeth his Gospell to be preached vnto vs and let vs imbrace our Lorde Iesus Christ with the peace which he offereth vs resorting to his death and passion that we may haue him for the gage of our righteousnesse and the verie raunsome whereby to come in fauor with our God againe so as all our sinnes may be buried through his mercie and we labour to drawe others also vnto him that all of vs with one common accord may tend vnto our God and he be serued and worshipped of al mē And for the bringing hereof to passe it may please him to raise vp true and faithfull ministers of his worde c. On Fryday the xx of December 1555. The Cxix Sermon which is the fourth vpon the twentith Chapter 16.17.18 But of the Cities of c. 19 When thou shalt haue beseeged a Citie a long time in fighting against it to take it thou shalt not marre the trees therof by putting an Axe vnto them for thou maist eate of them and therefore cut them not downe for the life of man is the tree of the feelde to come with thee to the seege 20 Onely thou maist destroy and cut downe the trees which thou knowest to be no trees to eate of and thereof thou maist make bulwarkes against the Citie which holdeth warre against thee vntil thou haue wonne it YEsterday was shewed why God gaue so rigorous sentence against the Nations that had dwelte in the Lande of Chanaan It was tolde you that hee had borne with them ere that time and suffered them till such time as they were condemned and thereupon that we must benefite our selues by such examples partlie that wee abuse not Gods patience when hee spareth vs and delayeth the execution of his iudgements giuing vs leasure in the meane while to returne to repentaunce and partly that when wee see him execute so extreeme rigour vppon men Rom. 2.4 we shoulde assure our selues it is because hee knoweth them to bee vtterly past grace and haue heaped vp such condemnation vppon their heades a long time afore hande Now remaineth to note that GOD appointed the Iewes to bee the executers of the saide sentence so as the Chananites and such like were to bee rooted out by the hande of the Iewes And why It is saide expressely in the Text As the Lorde thy God hath commaunded thee Then was it not for the Iewes to enterprise it on their owne heade except they had had Gods worde for their warrant for it is not lawfull for vs to attempt anie thing vnlesse it bee our duetie and that God haue commaunded it And it is a generall rule for vs to beare in minde and to obserue all our life long For men may doe goodly and commendable thinges which notwithstanding shall not bee reputed for vertues before God when they passe their boundes that is to say when they holde not themselues within the listes of that which God hath vttered vnto them For if a man shoulde say It were good to doe thus and therefore I will applie my selfe thereto and yet in the meane while God calleth him not to it neither hath he anie word y t commands him to deale so his vnaduised aduēturing vpon things after that sort shall alwayes be condemned at Gods hand If we alledge that the deede is good and excellent of it selfe that is not enough for god wil be obeied at our hands whatsoeuer come thereof And therfore let euery man haue an eye to himselfe consider how farre his duety wil beare him If a man that hath but a little household to gouerne should take vpon him the office of a magistrate what were to bee saide vnto it There would be verie great confusion in that Likewise if he that is a seruant in a house should take more vppon him than belonges to him yee see that all were out of order Againe if the wife shoulde ouermaster her husband and make him her vnderling y e honestie of nature were quite goone So then it behooueth all men to holde themselues warely within their boundes and to followe what way soeuer God calleth them And when we haue Gods commādement we must not be helde back nor letted by men If God bid vs goe we must goe though all the worlde should set themselues against vs yet must wee not turne head but goe on still As for example in these dayes the Magistrates ministers of Iustice haue the sworde in their hand Rom. 13.4 and that not in vaine as saith Saint Paul for God wil haue them to punish offenders Now if they do nothing therein and yet in the meane season will needes alledge some excuse to God they deceiue themselues For in asmuch as our Lorde hath set them in office he hath tolde thē also that hee will haue them to be stout and full of courage in maintaining their state And so looke what commaundement was giuen to all the Iewes in olde time for
be no remedie to be found but only to flee to Gods mercie and to craue forgiuenesse not only for y e fault but also because men ought to feele y t he is angrie with the whole Citie What is to be done when the misdeede is apparant Ought not men much more to make supplication to God and to flee to his mercie at leastwise if they were well aduised Yes but wee see what hardnesse or rather blockishnesse is nowadayes in most men yea and well neere in all men For when a misdeede is committed who is hee that regardeth it True it is that if an outragious wickednesse be committed men will perchaunce say hee is a wicked man But they consider not that God warneth all folkes generally to say euery man in himselfe Alas how happeneth it that such an enormitie is committed among vs that all of vs shoulde bee defiled with it before GOD For that this is come to passe and wee neuer wist it is a token that wee haue euill profited in Gods worde For wee thinke not that his giuing of such examples vnto vs is for our instruction But although wee sleepe yet dooth not GOD cease to doe his office Wee heare what hee sayth when there is no Iustice nor vpright dealing in a citie They bee princes of Sodome they be theeues and murtherers Esa. 6. â—0 Hee sayth this to Iudges Not for that they had cut mens throates that were traueling No but because they had not mainteined the good and guiltlesse Therefore he saith Beholde it is a citie of bloud The very citie of Ierusalem it selfe which God had chosen to bee his royall pallace and Temple is called a citie of bloud and a denne of theeues And why Because many outrages and disorders were there committed and many poore soules were trodden vnder foote without succor and Iustice was become as an open robberie So then let vs learne to resorte to our God when any offence is committed and let euery of vs thinke with himselfe Alas our Lorde doeth vs to vnderstande that he is angrie with vs in that such things are hapned and that such enormities are committed among vs. And therefore let euery of vs craue pardon of them and also thinke thus with our selues Of whom is it long that I am not lyke one of them but onely of Gods preseruing of me And let vs also beware for the time to come Thus yee see in effect what wee haue to beare in minde as in the respect of the things that are spoken here concerning murder There was also the striking off of the Hekfers heade to make men the more afraid as who should say that the beholding of a poore beast slayne after that sorte doth moue men the more And what is to bee sayd then of a man which is shaped after the image of God Wee see then how our Lord meant to teach the Elders and Iudges that were present at the sacrifice that they might the better learne the horriblenesse of all murders For if wee bee afraid of a beast it is good reason that wee should bee touched much more to the quicke without all comparison for a humaine creature As touching the washing of their handes it is added to doe the people to vnderstand that they were after a sorte defiled or rather that they should declare both before the Angels and before all creatures that they might washe themselues from it And this serued for the time of the ceremonies of the Lawe But wee must vnderstand that it was not our Lordes meaning to foade his people by such signes in counterfeiting and hypocrisie What gayned Pilate by his washing of his handes Was hee cleared from the death of Iesus Christ No that washing of his was a token of his defiling Wherefore washed he his handes but because hee knewe himselfe guiltie of the death of Iesus Christ Whereof hee thought to cleere himselfe by a drop of water and that was too great a dalying with God And that is the cause why I sayd that his washing ingraued his sinne the deeper before GOD and made him the more vnexcusable And therefore had the people come dissemblingly to washe their handes it had bin but a further charging of themselues and a making of themselues the more faultie But Gods will was that the Elders should vse such ceremonies to doe vs the better to vnderstand that wee be fleshly and consider not our sinnes vnlesse they bee as it were pointed out with the finger Wee conceiue not Gods wrath except wee haue some signe of it before vs. God then meant to declare that when there is any such offence wee bee defiled so as there is nothing but filthinesse in vs but God mislyketh of vs we cannot preace vnto him without prouoking him to wrath Marke that for one point And therewithall hee meant to shewe vs how we ought to apply our indeuour to cleanesse And this cleanesse is not compassed with corruptible water but it must bee first in our consciences and afterwardes in all our members Wherefore let vs learne to looke to it Esa. 1.15 that our handes bee not bloudy as the Prophet Esay termeth the hands of those which did wrong to their neighbours and let not our feete runne after bloud neither let our members bee defiled nor made instrumentes of vnrighteousnesse as Saint Paule speaketh of them in the sixt to the Romans When we indeuour after that sort to keepe our selues vndefiled to Godward then do wee obserue the washing that was vnder the Lawe to reteine the trueth and substance thereof And at this day whereas we haue baptisme the water betokeneth the lyke not that it is sufficient of it selfe nor that it is of force to washe away our sinnes for what should then become of our Lord Iesus Christes bloud It were too grosse a blasphemie for a man to put his trust in a visible signe we must lift vp our mindes higher In lyke case is it with the Lordes supper Insomuch that when wee come to the table of our Lorde Iesus Christ if wee thinke to finde our soule-health in a bit of bread or in a droppe of wine wee bee very brutish and there is neither reason nor vnderstanding in vs. But when we bee led further so as by eating of the bread we conceiue that Christ is our very sustenance and that although wee bee spiritually dead in our selues yet we cease not to liue in him then doth the sacrament turne to our benefite And to that vse must we apply the doctrine that is set downe here And for a conclusion let vs marke further that although the men that are murthered doeâ—no more speake vnto vs because they be dead yet the bloud of them cryeth out for vengeance against vs. See wee not what proceeded from the bloud of Abell Hee needed no man of lawe to pleade his case for his very bloud cryed vnto God as is reported thereof Whereby wee bee done to vnderstand that although the parties
10 Iosua Iosua established and set in authoritie in the name of God and what wee are to learne thereby 1076. b 10.20 He is put in Moseses place by succession 1073. a 40.50.60.197 a 40. In what respect it is said that he was filled with the spirite of wisedome c. 1243. b all He is a noble man singularlie commended 107. b 40 Isachar Isachar fearefull and cowardly compared to an asse or mule 1217. b 30.40.50.60 A commendation of him Zabulon 1219. a 10.20 They both were neere to Galile 1219. b 40.50 Moseses blessing of Isachar 1217. a 10. and so forwarde Looke Tribe Tribes Ismaell Why God commanded Ismael to bee circumcised 809. a 40.50 and howe he prouided for him being halfe a bastard 63 a 30 Israell How the people of Israel were separated from all other nations and of their safe dwelling alone by himself 1232. a 50.60 Looke Iewes Issue What was permitted to the Iewes in case they died without Issue 879. b all Of raising vp spirituall Issue in y e church and to whome the same appertaineth 883. a 10.20.30.880 b 10.20.30 Wee are not bound to the order of raising vp Issue to succeede in the inheritance of houses landes c. 882. b 60 The shame of him that refused to raise vp Issue to his deceased brother among the Iewes 882. b 10.20.30.40 Iubile Of diuerse renewings that were appropriate to the yeere of Iubile 591. a 40.50 Looke Seuenth Yeare Iuda Of the tribe of Iuda being chosen and what the other tribes might haue alledged thereagainst 496. b all The kingdome promised to be established in him 1195. all 10.20.644 b 50.60.645 a 10. The blessings of the same 1195 all He attained not to the kingdome without impediments 1195. b all 1197. a all b 10. Why Moses speaketh so sparely of the tribe of Iuda of whome Iacob speaketh so amply in Genesis 1195. a all Iudge God though he be Iudge of the whole world in general yet wil he be knowen to be so chiefely in his church Read that place 1159.1160 a all How a Iudge when he vseth rigor must mourne in heart and why 330. a 10 What shoulde beecome of vs if God should shewe himselfe as a Iudge to the whole worlde 190. a 20 The duetie of a Iudge declared by way of comparison with a father 329. b 40.50.60.18 a 40.50 What maner of Iudge God will shewe himselfe to vs if wee continue vnamendable 151. b 10 How euerie one of vs ought to play the Iudge against himselfe 143. a 50 The protestation that a Iudge must make if a murtherer bee not founde 172. b 20 What this worde to Iudge importeth 602. b 20 Iudges Of worldlie Iudges and howe they bee corrupted 447. b 10.20 What wee must do if wee will bee good Iudges to condemne other mens faults 340. a 20 Of the Iudges that were ordeined in euerie citie to gouerne the Israelites and of the chiefe Iudge to whome all things were referred Read sermon 105. all through How long Iudges continued in Israel gouerning the land 639. b 20.30 Doctrine for Iudges to consider marke and practise 622. b 60. 623. a 10 18. a 30.20 b 10.623 b 60.624 a 10 God requireth stowtnes in them that are Iudges and how 623. b 40.50 Iudges must match their stoutnes with gentlenes 624 a 10 Iudges ordeined by God from the beginning and what he sheweth thereby 645. a 20.30 Why God ioyneth the priestes and the Iudges together in a case of witnes-bearing 705 a 60. b 10 The charge of Iudges other officers that are in place of authoritie 737 b 10.20 The iniustice of Iudges of assise noted in not dealing directly in sutes which come before them 873. a all Most excellent doctrine for Iudges to marke if they let offences to passe vnpunished 706. a all Iudges represent the maiestie of God 19. a 40 That Iudges or magistrates must take no giftes why 624. b 10.20 Iudgement Gods Iudgement seat the place where we must appeare to make our accouÌ„t 33. b 60 Paules meaning that Iudgement standeth vpoÌ„ the mouth of two or three witnesses 637. b 20.30 Why the chiefe authoritie of IudgemeÌ„t was coÌ„mitted to the order of priests with the Iudge whome God had set vp 640. a all b 10 Of hauing respect of persons in Iudgement read notable doctrine 623. b all 624. a all Of iustice and Iudgement wherein they do both consist 235. a 30. b 10 Note the doctrine vpon these wordes that the Iudgement right of the stranger shall not be peruerted 862. a 50.60 b all 863. all Of Gods taking of Iudgement in hand and what wee haue to note therein 1169. a 10. so forward 875. b 30 The Iudgement written in the mitre of Aaron 1199. a 30 What these wordes of executing Gods iustice and Iudgement do giue vs to vnderstand 1224. a 40.50.60 c. The meaning of these wordes Iudgement shal begin at Gods house 1159 b. 50.60.1160 a all Iudgements What we ought to doe when there is any speaking of Gods Iudgements 84. a 10 God vttereth his Iudgements vnto vs that wee should preuent them 399. a 10 Wee must not bee ouer inquisitiue of Gods Iudgements when they passe our capacitie 397. a 30.40.50.60 Whether Moses was of authoritie to restraine Gods Iudgements of destroiing the Iewes when God saide Let me alone c. 394. b 30.40.50 What thing Moses meant to expresse by these wordes Iudgements statutes and ordinances 294. a 50.60 and b 10 We must not measure gods Iudgements after our fansie read why â—27 a 50.60.328 a 40.50 Of what things Gods Iudgements vpoÌ„ others ought to be warnings vnto vs. 327. b 40.342 a 10 We must mark that God hath a reason of his Iudgements 1143. a 50 Of preuenting Gods Iudgements by the example of Noah and how 1034 b 10.20 Gods IudgemeÌ„ts compared to a deepe gulfe vnpossible to be gaged 1143. a 60 What we haue to learne if God delaie and execute not his Iudgements out of hande 84. a 30.304 a 30. b 10.20 Iustice of God A defence of Gods Iustice in taking veÌ„geance on sinners against the iniurious complaint of some grudgers there against 303. b all 304. a all Wee cannot loue God without his Iustice and how that is meant 320. b 10.20 We ought not to incroch vpon the secrets of Gods will and Iustice. 82. a 30.40.50 God hath wherewith to maintaine his Iustice though he shewe it not to vs. 84. b 10 Wee be better taught by the delay of Gods Iustice than if it were executed at once and out of hand 72. a 60 b 10 How we shall not faile to yeelde God the praise of Iustice and vprightnes 84. b 10 The seate of God and of Iustice defiled by putting one in office but vppon hope 16. a 30 The force of Gods Iustice is it that abasheth vs. 45. b 60. 46. a 10 Of the Iustice of God vpon sinners and what wee