sticke to his word and sith it is our life let vs assure ourselues that it wil not deceiue vs nor beguile vs if we trust vnto it For why It shall not returne void from vs that is to say when we haue once admitted it in it wil take such roote as Gods power shall euer be at hande to vs and God shall sooner renounce himselfe than not performe his promises True it is that we shal not see it out of hand but yet must we be fully resolued thereof and patiently tarry til y e fit time be come for our lord to shew that he ment not to iest or to dally in telling vs that he would be liberall vnto vs. Now sith it is so let vs learne to be the more desirous to receiue Gods worde in respect of the profite that it bringeth vs. For God thinketh it not ynough to shew vs the maiestie that is in his word to the intent we should be humbled to obey it but his mind is also to allure vs that we might be in loue with it And to that ende doeth Moses speake it heare He had magnified the word sufficiently heretofore shewing that it proceedeth from God and that heauen and earth shall beare witnes against vs if we refuse it but now he addeth another reason to induce men the better to heare God yea and to heare him desirously namely that God will prolong their dayes in the land which they go to possesse at leastwise if they suffer themselues to be taught by him And why For we be all poore silly soules without hope of saluation if we continue in the state of al mākind All the life which men weene thēselues to haue in this world is but as a way to hell vntill God haue turned vs to the better and haue taught vs what is saide in his woorde As touching that which he addeth saying That they shall lengthen their daies when they bee passed ouer Iordan I will treate thereof to morow if it please God Now let vs fall downe before the Maiestie of our good God with acknowledgement of our faultes praying him to make vs so to feele them more and more as wee may learne to turne againe vnto him and make the great number of exhortations auailable which moue vs dayly so to doe and that when he layeth before vs our sinnes and threatneth vs with his wrath we may be so conuicted as we may not continue hardened in euill but returne vnto him and pray him to bee so gratious vnto vs as not to suffer Satan to haue dominion ouer vs but rather to make vs indeuour to reform ourselues in such sort as that our hearing of his word may cause vs to amend and bring vs backe to him and frame out whole life according to his will That it may please him to graunt this grace not onely to vs but also to all people and Nations of the earth c. On Fryday the xix of Iune 1556. The CXC Sermon which is the thirteenth vpon the two and thirtith Chapter 48 And the same day the Lord spake vnto Moses saying 49 Get thee vp into this mountaine Abarim the mountaine Nebo which is in the land of Moab oueragainst Iericho and there take a view of the land of Chanaan which I giue in possession to the children of Israell 50 And thou shalt dye vpon the mountaine which thou goest vp into and be gathered vnto thy people like as Aaron thy brother dyed vppon Mount Hor and was gathered with his people 51 Bicause ye sinned against me among the Children of Israell by the waters of strife in Cades in the wildernesse of Sin For yee sanctified me not in the presence of the Children of Israell 52 Therfore thou shalt see the land before thee but thou shalt not enter into it namely the land which I giue vnto the Children of Israell THis historie hath bin touched alreadie heretofore in the first Chapter Deut. 1.37 where Moses declated that he was depriued of the benefite which he had looked for that is to say of inioying the inheritance which God had promised to all the linage of Abraham Now the ful time was come and Moses had bin appointed of God to deliuer the people by reason whereof there was great likelihood that he aboue all others should haue gone into that land But when he was to haue set his foote into it then behoued it him to die and that was a verie hard case for him Hee made mention thereof afore to shewe to the children of Israel howe great and excessiue their lewdnesse was seeing that he was punished for their sakes For the mischiefe came not of himselfe hee had not consented neither to their murmuringes not to their blasphemies but rather had strayned himselfe to withstand them Yet notwithstanding his constancie was not so great as was requisite Onely bicause hee was as a man amazed and glorifyed not God with such stedfastnesse as hee ought to haue doone hee was banished from the land This doeth he charge them with to their reproch And here he repeateth againe how that after he had published the lawe God told him againe that he should beare that punishment of not entering into the lande of Canaan and therewithall he telleth him immediately of his death Nowe first of all if wee reade what is written by Moses himselfe it will seeme that he ouershot not himself in the place y t is called Meriba which aforetime was named Raphirim Exod. 17.7 For there perceiuing the people to cry that they died for thirst hee called vppon God Moses doeth not take part with them that stormed after that manner hee was no fellow with them hee repyned not a God but rather went to him with all humilitie saying Alas Lorde I am a mortall man and how may I satisfie this people vnlesse thou prouide for them Moses resorted vnto GOD his meaning was not to prouoke him to wrath therewithall it should seeme that he looked that God should woorke after his accustomed manner that is to say that hee should shewe foorth his power Now then if a man looke vppon the outward apparance of the matter it will seeme that Moses behaued himself faithfully and that he was not to be blamed Yet notwithstanding hee is condemned both he his brother Aaron And why Hereby wee see that wee must not alwayes weigh our sinnes in our owne ballance for that will euer deceiue vs according to this saying of Salomon Man thinketh his owne wayes to bee right Prou. 21.2 but God weyeth mens hearts Therefore when men haue acquit themselues they haue gained nothing thereby For sometimes the lewdnes lyeth hid within God seeth it and it is he y t chalengeth to himselfe the office of searching of all thoughts Then by the example of Moses we be warned not to flatter our selues For although our sinnes be hidden from men yea and that we our selues cannot comprehend them wee must not vnder colour thereof
the time of the abominations of the Popedome so that to speake properly it should seeme that men become diuilles after their hearing of the Gospell What is it I pray you that a man shall see yea and that commonly That there is now no more loue of God no nor countenance of louing him that Religion is let alone colde and dead and that there is no more zeale in vs than in a timberlogge It is apparant then that Gods word is now adayes stained and defyled with our iniquities in so much that whereas wee should bee as burning Lampes to giue light to the sillie ignorant soules wee giue them occasion of stumbling Againe on the other side we see how the faithlesse doe fight against God seeking nothing else dayly but to ouerthrow his trueth and to cause it to be quenched out that it might neuer be spoken off more Seeing then that the whole world is so malicious and that as well the one sort as the other doe make open warre against God continuing still in their stubbornnesse which increaseth from day to day must not God after he hath waited for some conuersion and amendment execute his vengeance vppon vs as wee deserue Ye see then after what manner it behoueth vs to prepare our selues considering that wickednesse is so great nowe adayes and so farre past hope of recouerie But yet therewithall let vs comfort our selues and looke also that in punishing the offenders God will not fayle to keepe still some seed to himselfe so as he wil alwaies haue some little flock to cal vpon him and to worship him Let vs not doubt then but that our Lorde will alwayes maintaine his Churche to the intent to shewe himselfe sooth fast Although all thinges seeme forlorne and brought to confusion yet will God worke after such a fashion as wee shall see in the ende that he hath had a regard of his promise and that he will shew himselfe faithfull and prooue himselfe so in deede But let vs marke well that the Churche shall not alwayes be visible so as wee shall perceiue it It shall seeme nowe and then that all is come to nought Like as when God made the people to turne backe againe he said vnto them Get ye into the wildernesse towardes the red Sea as though they should haue returned againe into Egypt Here is such a great confusion as it might well seeme that he minded not any more that the land of Chanaan shoulde bee giuen for an heritage vnto those to whom it was promised Ye see then that for a time it seemed that God had falsified his promise and that there was not any more hope that the children of Abraham should haue entered into the place that was promised them Euen so shall it fall out with vs as in deede it is come to passe For when God withdraweth his light out of the worlde it will seeme that there is no more any Church at all If a man looke round about him he shall see that all is gone to hauocke And in good faith what desolation was there in the time of Poperie Yea and euen still at this day a man myght thinke that all shoulde goe to ruine and decaye But let vs marke that it is all one as if God shoulde cause those to goe backe againe which are not woorthie to goe forewarde and that yet notwithstanding he ceasseth not to holde on in such wise as his Churche shall still bee maintained and preserued Howbeit not that the same can bee discerned with the eye or perceiued by man but wee must shut our eyes vntill our Lord doe worke after his owne maner that is to say wonderfully beyond all our expectation and beyond all that we bee able to conceiue Thus you see howe wee may comfort our selues in this that although wee see it is not possible but y t God must not cast some horrible punishment in these dayes vppon mens wickednesse yet neuerthelesse hee will alwayes reserue some people to himselfe so as the thing that he speaketh by his Prophet Ioel shal be seene continually 〈◊〉 2.30 Though heauen and earth saith he do goe together though the sunne be darkened though the moone drop bloude though the starres lose their light and though the earth remoue yet for all that whosoeuer calleth vppon the name of the Lorde shal bee saued GOD will preserue them whom he hath chosen to call vppon him and albeit that their life bee hidde yet will not God faile to heare them in the end and to shewe them that hee neuer was vnmindefull of his promise but that he had a regarde of himselfe notwithstanding that men were not worthy to haue any one drop of goodnes and mercy offered vnto them This is the matter in effect which we haue to remember in this first place But herewithall we must marke the othe that God made against the Iewes Psal. 95.7 Heb. 3.7 4.7 as it is set downe in the Psalme and afterwarde applyed vnto vs by the Apostle saying To day if ye wil heare his voyce harden not your hearts as your fathers did in the wildernesse vnto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into y e land y t was my rest We see how it was y e wil of the holy Ghost that the Iewes should in al ages be mindful of this disobedience that had bin committed and that therevpon they should remember that for the same their fathers were bereft of the benefit that had beene promised them and shutte out from Gods rest For as I saide afore this serued not for the Iewes only but the Apostle applieth it also to our time God then directeth his speech to vs at this day Therefore wee must haue our eares open to hearken vnto him wee must not driue of from morrowe to morrowe wee must seeke no delay as soone as God speaketh wee must be readie to learne and not harden our heartes against him Whereby wee bee put in minde that there is nothing which hindereth our obedience vnto God but our own resisting of him through a certaine wilful frowardnes For he for his part applieth himselfe in such wise vnto vs as hee beareth with our rudenesse and infirmitie So then all they that are taught by the Gospell shall obey God without gainesaying if they poyson not themselues through a certaine wilful frowardnesse to withstande God and to driue backe his grace That is the cause why we be expresly warned not to harden our heartes Yea verily for wee must not think that God will suffer his grace to bee so scorned and dalyed with and set light by If he were inflamed with anger against the Iewes for refusing to enter into the Land of Chanaan if we nowadayes doe playe the restie iades and fall to kicking let vs not thinke that such vnthankefulnesse shall scape vnpunished And in good sooth if the Iewes were so punished at that time that all the sorte of them came to nought
certaine that euerie of vs woulde followe this Principle and the seede which is in vs namely That forasmuch as there is but one God therefore we ought to worshippe and serue him Let men bee as wicked as they list and let them striue as much as they can to extinguish al manner of light that they may haue no more reason in them as we see many doe whose whole delight and indeuour is to make themselues verie beastes yet doeth this remaine still engrauen in them That there is a God which ought to be serued What shall become of vs then if we seeke him not as we ought to doe Againe see we not the worlde howe it is so farre out of course that there is nothing but confusion throughout all and that thereuppon euery man goeth astray Whereof commeth it say I that we bee so witlesse as to follow the wicked trade of other men and yet bee compelled to condemne the same Euen of this that wee turne away our heartes backe that is to say that euerie of vs wrappeth himselfe in wilfull blindnesse and euery of vs setteth himselfe backe notwithstanding that we haue beene taught the contrarie For albeit that it is true without exception that all they which turne away from the truth doe it of a certaine wickednesse ye◠notwithstanding we bee double folde the lesse excusable when wee haue bin taught by the word so as God hath shewed himselfe vnto vs familiarly Therefore when we heare this saying of Moses wee must apply it to our vse For we see how our Lorde hath shewed vs the way of saluation by his Gospel wee see how he continueth it still from day to day what will become of vs then if wee stray away Wee shall not bee as the Turkes or as the verie Papistes but it shal be vpbraided vs that wee haue turned our heartes backe and that where as God had set vs in the good way and reached vs his hande to guide vs wee haue beene frowarde and woulde not hearken to the thinges which hee tolde vs and that all this wee haue done of wilfull malice Yea and Moses addeth yet an other worde saying If thou bee driuen to serue straunge Gods He sheweth that men be driuen with a certaine furie or frentikenesse when they cannot finde in their heartes to submit themselues to God to bee wunne vnto him by his worde Needes then must there bee a dreadfull rage in this case and that Sathan worketh after a horrible manner when men bee so farre out of order Wee haue seene in the fourth Chapter Deut. 4.19 howe hee saide Looke well to thy selfe that in beholding the sunne and the stars thou be not compelled to worshippe them and to make them ydols There Moses sheweth that men woulde neuer runne out to ydolatrie vnlesse they had some outrageous prouocation within them to driue them thereunto as if they were out of their wittes For were men well aduised setled in their wits as they ought to bee they woulde certainly come to their God And therefore wee bee double guiltie when hauing turned away from our GOD and drawen backe our heartes through wilfull malice and stubbornenesse ouer and besides that wee haue beene caried with such a raging moode as wee cannot bee tamed neither can any repentance take place in vs neither will wee bee ruled by reason but we behaue ourselues like folk that are straught or rather starke madde And hereby wee ought to take warning to mistrust all our affections and to bridle and imprison all our wittes seeing wee bee so lightly withdrawen from God and turned away to become backeslyders If men giue themselues libertie what followeth but that their heart will quickely bee turned backewarde When wee shoulde walke vprightly wee make it difficult to goe one step but if it come to backeslyding wee flitte away like water there is nothing in vs but slippernesse Therefore must wee holde our selues as captiues knowing well that if wee haue neuer so little libertie wee bee straight way gone quite from our God Moreouer when men doe so beleeue their passions they must needes become like madde beastes neither reason nor equitie may beare sway there is no more vnderstanding in them and to bee short they are become brutish of their owne accorde Seeing wee bee warned of these thinges let vs learne so to fight against all manner of excessiue lustes and against all the appetites that boyle within vs as GOD may gouerne vs quietly and wee bee readie to follow which way soeuer he calleth vs. Now after that Moses hath spoken so he addeth that albeit that the people haue passed Iordan and become to the possession of the land yet they shal not enioy it for euer Here our Lorde declareth vnto vs y t if he beare with vs for a time wee may not thereupon fall asleepe nor perswade our selues that wee bee at peace with him as the hypocrites do who vnlesse they be pinched with miserie and that God doe pursue them roughly doe alwayes make their market after their owne deuise Well say they God must needes loue mee for I am at myne case and thereupon they flatter themselues And whereas they do but mocke God they thinke that hee seeth it not a whit To bee short the blessinges that God bestoweth on them they turne as it were to a shrowding sheete of purpose to keepe God from espying any whit of their life And thus they bleare their owne eyes make them selues pastime good cheare as though they shold neuer come to reckoning And that is too common a fault Now Moses sayth vnto them here Albeit your God doe at this present time bring you into the lande which hee promised you and that you passe ouer Iordan where God will shewe his power euen in drying vp y e Iordan as hee did in drying vp the read sea where your enimies were vanquished put to y e foyle insomuch that when you were like to haue bin stopped from entring into your inheritance yet notwithstanding al those lettes were ouercome For as much therfore as you see such fauour of God beware that you sleepe not in the meane whyle but walke in his feare for he can as well driue you out of that land as he doeth at this present bring you into it To be short whensoeuer we haue receiued any fauour at Gods hand we be exhorted to vse it in such wise as y e same may be an occasion vnto vs to serue him so as wee conceiue courage to yeeld ouer our selues to his obedience for least we be bereft therof againe either early or late for playing the wylde beastes for dealing stubbornly after that God hath made vs fatte 〈◊〉 32.15 according as wee shall see in the song of Moses Moses hauing spoken so vseth a greater vehemencie saying This day I call heauen and earth to witnesse that I haue set before thee life and death blessing and cursing The same in effect was spoken afore
set our mindes vpon the end which God hath promised vs. And therwithall let vs also haue an eye to his threatenings and let them hold vs in awe And although the wicked prouoke God and are not rebuked for it at the first bycause God seeth that they be not worthy to be chastised by his hand yet notwithstanding let not vs bee astonished therat but let vs vnderstand that Gods threatening of the transgressors of his Law after that fashion is not in vaine And therefore let vs frame our owne inditement that we may preuent the condemnation which otherwise taryeth for vs. That I say is the thing which wee haue to remember vpon the word End wherof Moses hath spoken heere And therwithall we see the goodnesse of God heere expressed after a wonderful maner in that he entereth into a complaning and sorrowing as if he were a man that could suffer O that this people saith he had bin weladuised True it is that our Lord is not subiect to our passions but he vseth such form of speech to shew that the loue which he beareth vs surmounteth the loue of all earthly fathers And therefore it serueth in effect to doe vs to vnderstand that when we goe wilfully into destruction and reiect the grace which was offered vs to our saluation then doe we grieue the spirite of God as is said in the Prophet Esay and it is al one as if we strake God with a dagger as he complayneth also by his Prophet Zachary That is one thing in effect which we haue to remember vpon this place And were all this well grauen in our heartes I pray you woulde it not make vs to abhorre all our sinnes When a man is tempted by Sathan to offend his God if hee would bethinke himselfe of this point and say How now Thou grieuest thy God thou giuest him cause to enter into complaint and sorrowe like a father that conceiueth griefe and anguish of mind when hee sees his children vnruly and vnreformable It is a wounding of him at the heart and so likewise God telleth vs y t we grieue his spirite If a man I say would bethinke himselfe throughly of these things although he had a heart of stone yet would they breake it and soften it And this is the cause why that throughout all the holy Scripture hee complaineth of this that we greatly grieue him whē we are so wicked vnruly Therefore let vs aduise ourselues wel for as much as hee is desirous to be our father let vs bee to him as children For it must needes be that Sathan hath more than bewitched vs that hee rageth most terribly in vs if we be not moued at such kind of dealing And it behoueth vs so much the more to marke well this text bycause our Lord condemneth men for that they are too senselesse and brutish and telleth them that they be too too blockish in that they haue not eye to their ende but specially for that hee proceedeth so farre as to cloth himselfe with our humane passions and lamenteth to see vs perish wilfully and that we cannot abyde that hee should deale like a father with vs. That is one thing more which we haue to marke vpon this text Now if any man alleage that God seeing men so destitute could wel giue them vnderstanding as we haue seene heeretofore where it is sayde God hath not yet giuen thee a minde and heart to vnderstand Deut. 29.4 We must mark that God hath his secret purpose which he reserueth to himselfe For he sheweth fauour to whom he listeth Exo. 33.19 Ro. 9.15 and he hath pitie on whome he hath pitie and it is not for vs to enter thereinto but rather to doe him the honour to confesse that he is the fountaine of al goodnes of al power of al wisedome and of all Iustice and vprightnesse Yet notwithstanding we must make hast when hee calleth incorageth vs by his word For if we come not ne hearken to the things that are set forth to vs in his name to receiue them obediētly by faith we shal be condemned as persons that haue grieued his holy spirite by rebelling against him and shewed our selues to be vnreformable children that haue disdayned our father and made our selues straungers to him and to his house That is the thing which is set forth vnto vs in this text Therefore whereas God vpbraideth vs with our grieuing of him let vs beware that wee enter not into these needeles curiosities but rather let it suffice vs to behold him in his word where he sheweth himself and where he sheweth himselfe in such wise as we shall finde that all they which frame themselues thereafter shall haue a happy end that is to wit that for as much as they bee adopted of God afore they cannot perish and on the coutrary parte that they which turne their backe to God when he sheweth them his face and which kick and spurne against him shall for their sturdinesse reape nothing but confusion That is the thing in effect which we haue to gather vpon this place Now Moses addeth consequētly Were it possible for one man to chase a thousand or that two should put ten thousand to flight vnlesse the Lord had inclosed thē and that their mightie one did hold thē captiue Here he sheweth by effect y t God had sufficiently warned his people if they had but one spark of reason in them And thereupō it is to be concluded y t there was no more excuse of ignoraunce for y t people but y t they were conuicted ouermuch to haue hardened their hearts euen of wilfull malice so to haue withstoode God to haue letted him y t he should not bring thē backe into the right way That was y e meaning of Moses Now let vs mark y t when God vouchsafed to shew his fauour towardes the people of Israel then was his promise performed y t is to wit y t as soone as the people did but as ye would say remoue thēselues by by their enemyes were ouercome We knowe what ouerthrowes they gaue and by what meanes y e same came to passe For we heare how it is said by y e Prophet Esay Esa. 9.4 y t whensoeuer God listeth to succour his people to vtter his power in their defence it shall fall out w t them as it did in the voyage against Madian Iudges 7. for at y t time Gedeon gate not the victorie by mans policie neither by vailancie or strength of hand but it was the sword of God of Gedeon that did the deede And yet it was so done as it might seeme to be a play of young children But our Lord saith y t he will maintaine his people after y t fashion Againe in other texts he declareth that his sauing of his people shall be neither by sword nor by speare Osee. 1.7 but by his owne only hand Ye see then how God
deeme our selues to be righteous but put our selues into Gods hande praying him to make vs vnderstand our secrete vices and to vouchsafe that as they bee buryed from vs so they may be pardoned by him let vs crie w t Dauid Psal. 19.13 Lord who knoweth his faultes But clense thou me from the things which I haue not perceyued Thus yee see what wee haue to remember vppon this place And nowe hereuppon let vs learne to discharge our selues of all pride for there are many men to bee seene which coulde finde in their heartes to stand in contention with God and would neuer agree to his iudgement vntill hee haue shewed them wherfore he doth condemne this or that But we must not lift vp bristles after that maner We knowe there is but one onely Iudge and that wee must all come before his seate with reuerence Rom. 14.10 2. Cor. 5.10 as sayeth Saint Paule Sith it is so let vs keepe vs from attempting any thing beyond that which belongeth vnto vs and let vs not take vppon vs the authoritie of God to put difference betweene good and euill after our owne fansie but let vs enquire after the thing which our Lord alloweth hold it for good without gainsaying And looke what he condemneth let vs hold it for euill without asking question why vnlesse God shew vs y e reason and then must we accept thereof For if hee once say the worde wee must holde vs to it and keepe silence To be short let vs learne to glorifie God in all cases and when hee hath once spoken a thing let it suffice vs and let vs all agree vnto it without any further adoe For it shal not boote vs to striue wee shall but double our condemnation continually What should it haue profited Moses to haue made long processe and to haue entred into particularities with God for the iustifying of himself to haue said Why What haue I said Did any one word scape mee out of square And on the other side I meant not to consent to the wickednesse of this people Which thing I haue shewed as much as might be in all my dooinges In so much y t euen when they asked water I knewe not howe to doe better than to consider myne owne weakenes and therefore I confessed it with mine owne mouth and therewithal called vpon thee Moses had many allegations to make but if he had entered into them it had bin the next way to haue prouoked Gods vengeance so much the more against him Seeing then that hee did willingly yeeld to his condemnation to the intent to obtaine mercie for his fault let vs followe his example and suffer God to vse his due authoritie ouer vs and let all mouthes bee stopped before him as sayeth the scripture Thus much for that one poynt Nowe by the way we see what charge they take vppon them which ought to gouerne a people For it is not ynough for them to bee no partakers of the rebellions mutinies wicked compactes other offences that are committed against God Although they protest that they bee not attaynted with them nor had any minde or intent that way yet shall they not goe quit nor be counted guiltlesse for all that For it behoueth them to withstand it with all stoutenesse of minde and force and to bee vtterly vnuincible If they shoulde see not onely two or three naughtipackes set themselues against God but also euen a whole people set vpon mischiefe yet ought they to set themselues against them as open aduersaries in the maintenance of Gods cause and if they faile so to doe their cowardlinesse will not be excusable Oftentimes the Magistrats which haue Gods sword in their hand and the Ministers of Gods woorde which are ordeyned to rebuke euill thinke it ynough to bee but onely grieued when men offende God But wee see contrariwise that although Moses and Aaron medled not with the wickednesse of the people but did euen shunne it and would with all their hearts that God had beene honoured it was not long of them that things went no better foreward yet notwithstanding God imputeth it to them for a fault bicause they were not stout and freeharted in striuing against them as they ought to haue bin So then they which are set in publique office ought to desire God to giue them such constancie and stoutnesse of mind as they may not yeelde for any thing that can happen but keepe on their course continually without striking their sayle as they say For surely as for vs a small thing will shake vs or rather throw vs downe at the first blow Therefore must God be faine to worke in vs. Yet notwithstanding we shal not be discharged except that euery of vs in his calling do put foorth himselfe in the maintenaunce of Gods quarel to restraine the euill as much as hee can so as our mouthes be open to rebuke vice insomuch that if we see a whole people giuen to wickednesse we cry out vnto them tel them of the vengeance that is prepared for them Thus ye see what we haue to doe on our side Also let the magistrates straine themselues as much as is possible for them For if we considering what is happened to Moses and Aaron doe step aside let vs not thinke our selues to haue more priuiledge than they But yet we haue to note heerewithall that Gods punishing of Aaron and Moses was in such sorte as he ceased not for all that to auow them for faithfull and to allow their calling and to yeelde them an excellent record euen after their deceasse accordingly as we heare how it is sayde in the psalme 〈◊〉 6.6 that Aaron and Moses were his true seruauntes Ye see heere how the holy ghost magnifieth Moses and Aaron and yet for all that they fayled not to be punished too Yea but God vseth but temporall punishment towardes them and thereupon hee ceaseth not to be their father still When God then punisheth our faults although the corrections bee irkesome to beare yet let vs bee contented therewith so long as hee is mercifull to vs still and that hee auowe vs to bee of the number of his children So long as that remayneth to vs let vs go on still and let it not grieue vs though GOD scourge vs with his roddes for wee haue neede of them Wee see how the greatest euen those which haue most excelled in all vertue and holynesse haue shewed vs the way in this behalfe Shoulde GOD spare vs more than hee spared Moses and Aaron Yee see then howe the faythfull ought to prepare themselues to receiue chastisement for the offences which they haue committed and that they must not thinke that bicause they bee GODS children therefore they shoulde bee exempted from all afflictions and GOD shoulde doe away all their faultes without making any countenaunce of misliking them But rather they must bee fully resolued that God will visite them and put them