FOrasmuch as the world is hardly kept and reteined in subiection vnder God , let vs see how he , for his part , after he had chosen to himselfe one peculiar people , vouchsafeth to rule them , not for one time onely , but so long , and so often , vntill the people should bee well accustomed to the yoke : whiche order he vseth yet daily in his Church . It ought to suffice vs , that we had vnderstood of the truth of our God in one simple woord : but because we are not so readie to beleeue , as were requisite , and when we haue begonne , we decline and fall away in the end , insomuch that we vtterly forget that which was taught vs : see I say , howe he is not contented to haue declared vnto vs for one day , that whiche apperteineth to our saluation , but calleth the same to our mindes continually , and imprinteth it in our heartes as much as is possible . Let vs consider to this purpose , how Moses reciteth in this place , that he not onely deliuered the Lawe in Horeb , but also that after that he had made his circuite in the wildernesse by the space of fortie yeares or there about , he hath againe instructed the people , yea , that of all the time he was with them , he neuer ceased to set before them , that which God had commaunded him to publish , as we haue alreadie aboue touched . And the diligence we here see in Moses , is not superfluous , but to good purpose , when he saith , that being come almost to Iordan , and hauing discomfited Sehon King of the Amorites , and Og the King of Bashan his neighbour , that he yet putteth them in minde of the statutes and ordinaunces of God , to the end the people should rest on them , and put them in practise , and that if heretofore they haue not bene sufficientlie instructed , they should at the lest then knowe the truth of the Lorde , wherein they should wholie abide . Thus yee see what Moses ment by this place : and here he purposely placeth together these wordes : the Lawe , the Witnesses , the Statutes , the Ordinaunces , to the end he might more fullie expresse & declare ( as we haue before shewed , ) that God hath not instructed his people by halfes , or deliuered vnto them some obscure or short and vnperfect doctrine : but that he hath comprised in the Lawe whatsoeuer was good and profitable : so that if in it the people would stay them selues , they should not neede to be busied in seeking for any thing beside , as being fullie and wholie guided and directed by it . Let vs marke this , for in this sense the Lawe is a doctrine , as indeed , the worde whereby it is called , is hence taken and deriued . It foloweth , The witnesses , which unporteth as much , as if God should declare that he maketh some contract or bargaine with men , that he setteth downe articles to this end , that he neither omitteth or forgetteth any thing , whiche should serue to knit vp this mutuall agreement and aliance , when it pleaseth him to choose and adopt vs for his people and for his Church : & to bring vs to himselfe . For to speake in fewe woordes , all that whiche concerneth this spirituall couenaunt betweene him and vs , is comprehended vnder this word , Witnesses , because these are as the articles and pointes of the couenaunt , as when bondes are geuen when men contract and bargaine together , all is put in , which may serue for the one , and the other partie . Wee see then how God hath protested , that the Lawe conteineth a sufficient doctrine , if so be men would keepe them selues vnder it : to the declaration whereof the two other woordes followe , the Statutes , the Ordinaunces . Nowe when God bestoweth such paine to teach and instruct vs , and declareth that he hath omitted nothing whiche might perteine herevnto , who will not meruell that our mindes for all this are so fleeing and wandering , that we alwayes desire , I knowe not what something better than that whiche wee finde in the woorde of God ? This diuelish curiositie both from all times reigned in the world , and at this day a man may see , that whatsoeuer one doeth , he can not represse and stay this wicked and cursed desire , but that men will bee alwayes wiser than God would haue them to bee . And why ? We can not denie when his woord is preached , but that he hath declared all thinges , which were good and for our profite : but yet we for all this time are verie ticklish , we flote in out fantasies , and we will alwayes haue one thing or other , more than that which God hath shewed vs . Seeing then that such a vice bewrayeth it selfe in vs , it doth stand vs in hand to beare in mind the warning which is here conteined : namely , that if we will suffer God to be our maister , we shall finde in his schoole all perfection of wisedome . For his lawe is sufficient of it selfe to make vs wise againe . Col. 1. 28. It conteineth as we haue saide the articles whiche serue to ioyne vs to our God , in whome all our glorie and felicitie consisteth . Moreouer , it sheweth vs the rule of well doing , in such sort that we neede not searche further to vnderstand what God liketh and alloweth : for we haue both his statues & ordinaunces . So then we may know and be throughlie persuaded , that our life shal be acceptable vnto God , if we passe not the boundes whiche he hath set and assigned vs : but if wee adde any thing of our owne , whatsoeuer it bee , let vs not thinke that God approueth it as right and good : for he hath forgotten nothing of that whiche belongeth to our profite and necessitie . These two pointes are well worth the noting , for they serue to make vs to haue in greater price and reuerence the doctrine , whiche is euerie day proposed vnto vs in the name of God . For when wee see that in it is perfect wisedome , ought not we is applie all our senses to it , and to hold our selues thereto ? When we see that God ceaseth not , but continueth daily to teach vs , ought not we for our part to be diligent and attentiue , to the end we might profite vnder him ? And if at the first we be not so geuen vnto it , as were requisite we should be all the time of our life , ought wee not to traine our selues to knowe alwayes better and better , the will of God , euen vntill we bee wholie ridde of all ignoraunce , which shal be when we are taken foorth of this world , and not before ? Nowe it is certeine , that whiche Moses hath done , ought at this day to serue vs for a rule and example : for it is not done at randon , and beside good purpose : Againe , God appointed him as a spectacle and mirrour to all Prophetes , and to all those which haue the charge of teaching in his church . Let vs then vnderstand , that God will not that we receiue his truth for one day onely , as if one lesson were inough for vs : but that wee shoulde repeate againe that which before we vnderstood , to the end it might tarrie by vs , and take such deepe roote in vs , that we might haue no excuse , nor make any allegation , to say : O , I haue not bene yet throughly instructed . God then on his part is alwayes readie to teach vs , to the end we might not erre , except we our selues woulde wittingly decline , and of wilfull malice . And here is expresse mention made of the temple of Peor , to shewe , that although the people had in that place an obiect or sight to turne them to superstition , yet they had also a remedie , in that God daily stirred them vp by his worde , to the end they shoulde not meddle with the idolatries of the Painims . True it is , that it was an hard and greeuous chastisement , that the people of God were feigne to haue euer before their eyes the temple of an idol : it was all one , as if God , to spite and anger them , shoulde say : I did call you to possesse a land , which shoulde be dedicated to my seruice , where you shoulde haue seene nothing which might in any point haue offended you : for my sanctuarie shoulde haue bene set vp in the middest of you . I woulde haue bene purely worshipped according to my lawe , the lande should not haue bene vnhalowed & defiled with her old superstitions , all idolatrie should haue bene so raced out , that a man should heare nothing but my praises sounded : but now ye see ye are here in the corner of the countrie , where you see a temple of idols , where you see many villanous abhominations . This is then as a vengeance which you feele for your sinnes , for as much as you haue not bene worthie to enter into the lande , which I did promise you . See then how God woulde chastise his people , when he suffereth them to dwell nigh vnto the temple of Peor . And at this day , when we are mingled among idolaters , and perceiue what vncleanesse they commit , and howe they peruertall religion , let vs know that God by this meanes doth punish vs , or at least humbleth vs because of our sinnes . And in deede considering this , we ought not onely to lament for the sinnes which are committed by these incredulous and vnbeleeuing persons , but also because we knowe that we are not worthie to haue the worlde wholy reformed , and to behold an agreement & harmonie in religion , that God might be in all places purely worshipped , that when we are so neere to the superstitions of other , that we be constrained to see some of the markes and signes , and to heare something thereof , we must impute this to our owne sinnes . But how so euer it be , God ceaseth not to geue a good remedie to the people of Israel : for when the lawe was in this sort taught by Moses , it was all one , as if God shoulde separate his , from those miserable blinde ones , which wandered and went astraie in their superstitions . Now herevpon we haue to note , that although all the worlde be peruerted , and that in it wee see great confusions , and that all is full of errours and corruptions , yet notwithstanding it behoueth that we haue recourse to the worde of God , to be guided thereby , which must strengthen vs in such sort , that we may defie all the superstitions of idolaters . And if we be so full fraughted with vanitie , that we geue ouer our selues to decline and to turne aside hither and thither , after that God shall haue geuen vs his worde , there remaineth then no excuse . For ( as I haue alreadie said ) this shoulde be a bridle good enough for vs , that God declareth to vs his will . Although all the worlde drawe backward , and some haue one fantasie , and others make a faire shewe of some religion , yet all this must be esteemed as vaine & friuolous , after that we haue heard the voice of our God , and by that shall haue intelligence of his will . And therefore let vs put to our vse this certeine and infallible doctrine , the worde of God , to withdrawe vs from all wicked opinions , from all euill errours , from all that the diuell hath forged and counterfeited , and from all that men shall haue inuented & deuised in the world . Thus ye see what we haue to beare in minde , when Moses maketh mention here of the temple of Peor . Nowe he also addeth , that this was after the two kinges , Og the king of Bashan , & Sehon the king of the Amorites , or of Heshbon , were discomfited . This circumstance serueth to reproue the people , if they shoulde not yeald them selues in all obedience vnto God . We knowe that according to the benefite GOD bestoweth on vs , we ought so much the more to be stirred vp and prouoked to loue and to feare him . God hath shewed himselfe bountifull and liberall towards vs : ought it not to drawe vs so much the more vnto him ? For when a mortall man is indebted and bounde vnto vs for some benefite and good turne , shall he not be accounted dissolute and verie vnthankfull , if he reknowledge not the good we did him ? Howe then shall there be lesse excuse towards the liuing God ? Let vs then remember that Moses in this place maketh expresse mention of these two Kinges , which were uanquished and subdued , to the end the people should reknowledge this benefite in this manner : Go to , we haue had here two excellent victories . When heretofore we attempted warre against the commaundement of God : our enimies with great courage gaue vs the foile , there was in vs no strength : our enimies were as waspes , which come to put out our eyes , as the similitude hereof hath bene before giuen : there are now two Kings strong and mightie ouerthrowen , and subdued , without any cost of ours , God hath deliuered them into our handes . Who hath bene the cause of both these victories ? Hath it not bene God , which hath ruled & gouerned all herein ? Sithence then it is so , that he hath pitie on vs , & hath begonne to accomplish the promise whiche he made to our fathers , & that we haue alredie so good a warrant & gage thereof , ought not wee to endeuour to yeald our selues wholie to our God ? Ought we not in all thinges to be subiecte vnto him ? Ought we not to geue our selues ouer into his hand , which he hath shewed so strong by reason of the loue he beateth vs ? See I say how Moses hath vnderstod this , which he reciteth touching the ouerthrow of Sehon & Og , euen to reproue the vnthankfulnesse of the people , if they submite not them selues willinglie to the seruice of their God , to whome they were so much bound . But now we ought also to applie this doctrine to our owne vse that is , that as often as we perceiue in our selues any slouth or lithernesse in the busines of the Lord , any remisse negligence , any coldnes , any rebellion of the flesh , which striueth & stubbornly resisteth in such sort , that wee come not to God with so cheerefull & earnest affection , as were requisitie , that then we enter into a count of the benefites wee haue receiued of him , to say : Wretched creature , howe art thou so negligent , that thou cleauest not to thy God , when he hath declared his will vnto vs ? Consider what thou holdest of him , consider the benefits he hath bestowed on thee , euen vnto this houre . So then let euerie one examine & consider , how farre he is indebted to God , that we may be the more prouoked to serue him . And in generall , let vs know that he not only created vs , when we were not : but also that after that he had redeemed vs , by the bloud of our Lorde Iesus Christ , as he redeemed his people out of the land of Egypt , he hath by his grace drawen vs to him : so as we had the doctrine of the Gospell deliuered vs , which is all one , as if he had receiued vs vnder his gard and protection , and daily he sheweth the same vnto vs by effectes : for what greater aides and succours haue wee from him in our infirmities ? Should we not a thousand times bee ouercome of Satan , if our God had not his hand stretched out to succour vs ? Yes uerelie : we should be then all ouercome , and not onely oppressed , but also swalowed vp in our temptations , without such a stay and refuge as I haue said . Sith then it is so , that our Lorde ceaseth not to confirme daily his goodnesse towards vs , let vs on our part aduise our selues and consider to take this occasion , to serue him with a more ardent desire , and greater zeale , as we see it is heere spoken . In this sense it foloweth , that Moses speaketh to the people of Israel saying , Heare O Israel the lawe which the Lord hath caused to be proposed vnto you , that ye may learne it , and obserue it . Here againe Moses setteth downe the preface , of which before we tooke some view , that the Lawe is not geuen onely , to the end that men should heare it , to knowe what it conteineth : but that by it we should also be reformed , and that God might proue herein what subiection we yealde vnto him . In fewe wordes , we see that the doctrine of God consisteth in practise , and that we must by our doinges shewe , that we haue not in vaine bene taught it . Nowe , then Moses saith in the first place , Heare the Lawe whiche I propose in your eares , to the end you should learne it : As if he should say , that God will not that the doctrine which is preached vnto vs in his name and authoritie , should fall to the grounde : but that we must receiue it with all diligence , and applie our whole studies therein . For what is the causes that wee profite so euill in the woord of God , but that wee are ouermuch busied in the thinges of the world ? And if we come to the sermon , if we read the holy scripture , it is but for fashion and manners sake : wee seeke not to performe our dueties as we ought , in obseruing that whiche is taught vs . But let vs aduise our selues to be better and more diligent scholers , while the Lord vouchsafeth to instruct vs by his woord : and that is the cause why Moses saith he hath told the Lawe in their eares . Indeede , this manner of speaking would bee verie hard in our tongue : howbeit , it importeth as much , as if God should say , That he speaketh not vnto vs in an vnknowen & strange language , but sheweth himselfe in as plaine and familiar manner as may be desired . Seeing then it is so , that God commeth downe vnto vs , in such sorte , as to make a plaine and familiar declaration of his will , what excuse shall we haue to alledge , if his woord be lost in vs , or if it slippe from vs , or if we keepe it not to make our profite thereof ? It is true , that for asmuch as we are ouer dull and ignorant , we shall alwayes find much obscuritie in the woord of God , that the langauge of the Lord is to high and profound for vs , but to whom should the fault therof be imputed ? Let vs note therefore , that all they which complaine , that the woord of God is hard and obscure , as if it were hid vnder an vnknowen tongue , are here reproued of a manifest lie . Yea , that they do God great iniurie , yea , blaspheme him , for that they despitefully dissemble , & denie the bountie & goodnesse , which Moses protesteth was shewed the people at the publishing of the law : for it is there said , that God spake to the eares of the people by the mouth of Moses . So that the doctrine which he deliuered , ought to haue bene throughly knowen of them . And at this day we haue lesse occasion to vse this shifte , to alledge that we vnderstand nothing of that which is conteined to holie Scripture : for GOD speaketh so neerelie and familiarly vnto vs , that we neede but to haue our eares cleansed and prepared to heare him . And let vs note , that there remaineth nothing , but that we be attentiue & diligent to profite in the doctrine of saluation . But withall let vs call to mind that we haue aboue touched , namely , that this doctrine must be kept & folowed throughly : for if we doe not allowe the worde of God , and yeald our consentes that it is good , and true , and holie , God is much beholding vnto vs . What must we doe then ? See : God will make a triall whether he shall be maister ouer vs , or no. Now then , if the worde of God rule our life , that is : if we not onely inquire after that which he telleth vs , but forsake our naughtie lustes and desires , and endeuour onely to please him , and to be gouerned by him , and his righteousnes : when we come to this , then see we one good proofe , that he hath such dominion and superioritie ouer vs , as he deserueth . But , vntill wee haue profited so much , that we are come hither , let vs not thinke that we haue profited any thing at all in the doctrine which hath bene taught vs . Let this worde therefore of Doing be often called to minde , and imprinted in memorie of them , which heare the worde of God . As howe ? Beholde , God doth vs this courtesie in vouchsafing to teach vs . And why is that ? Is it to this end , that we shoulde onely lend our eares to say in the end , Yea : well said , that is good ? Nay , but to the end our life shoulde be reformed , and because it is a true and certeine rule that we shoulde not erre as we haue done , and as many poore ignorant wretches doe which are straied from the right way , and are not instructed as we are , vnto whome this doctrine ought to serue for mortification and newnesse of life : that God may beare rule ouer vs , and that we be subiect to him . Thus wee se in effect what Moses meant , when he protested vnto the people in this preface , that he set before them the lawe , not that they shoulde heare it , and so but haue their eares beaten there with : but that they should receiue it and keepe it . Nowe for the better confirmation of this , he alledgeth : That God had made his couenaunt with that people on the mount Horeb , the better to persuade them to feare God , and to continue in his obedience . For if God woulde onely require of vs that which is his due : yet were we sufficiently bounde to cleaue vnto him , and to obserue his commandements : but when it pleaseth him of his infinite goodnesse to couenant with vs , to binde himselfe vnto vs , when he needeth not : to stand on articles with vs , that he wil be our father and sauiour , that he will receiue vs for his flocke and heritage , that wee may liue vnder his gard and protection , offering vs euerlasting life : seeing that he doth all these thinges , ought not our heart to be softened though it were of stone ? When the creatures behold that the liuing God abaseth himself hitherto , as to treate the matter with vs , and to say : Goe to , let vs consider what we are , both you see what an infinite distance is betweene you and me , and knowe that I could commaund you what seemeth good to me , and not haue any thing to deale with you , and that you are not worthie to come nighe me , or to haue any acquaintaunce with him , which can command what he will without any further declaration than this . See , this I will , and this is my minde : yet loe I yeald of my right , I come hereto offer my selfe to be your guide and sauiour , I will gouerne you , you shal be my familie , if so be that you will content your selues with my worde . I wil be your king and you shall be my subiectes : & for all this , thinke you not that the couenant which I haue made with your fathers was to gaine any thing of you : for I haue no neede nor want of any thing whatsoeuer , and what benefite can you bestowe on me ? But all which I haue done and doe , is onely for your profite , and for your welfare . I am then here readie to couenaunt by articles with you , and to bind my selfe vnto you on my part . Seeing I say , that the liuing God doth abase himselfe so farre , I pray you shall not we be to vnthankfull , if we be not herewith beaten downe to humble our selues vnder him laying aside all our pride and hautinesse ? It is not therefore without , cause , that Moses speaketh here of the couenaunt which God hath made with his people , to the end that especially his fauour and goodnesse shoulde be knowen . Nowe if this was to be done in the time of the lawe , there is at this day much greater reason thereof : for the Lorde hath not onelie made a couenaunt for one time , as with the Iewes : but when he sent this onely some , then declared he him selfe to be our father and sauiour much more fullie than before he had done , and that after so sweete , so gratious , and so amiable a manner , as nothing more : in such sort that he hath here as it were laid forth his bowelles of loue and compassion towards vs . Seeing therefore God hath presented vnto vs his heart in the person of our Lorde Iesus Christ , Iohn ▪ 15. 15. and wee heare besides the protestation which Iesus Christ maketh , that he will call vs no more his seruaunts , but his friendes : because he hath so familiarly communicated vnto vs all the secrets of his will : must it not I beseeche you needes be , that the diuell hath bewitched vs , if wee bee not hereby moued to frame ourselues wholy vnto him , renouncing euen our selues , and all our affections ? So then , when we perceiue in our selues any wickednesse , wherby we are hindred to serue God , when we feele our selues idely disposed in the worke of the Lord , & are euen brought into an heauie sleepe by the cares of this world , to stirre our selues vp to praise our God , let vs haue in minde this couenaunt which the Lord hath made with vs . Nowe herevpon Moses further addeth : The Lord made not this couenaunt with our fathers , but with vs , euen with vs which are aliue at this day . This place may bee vnderstood after two sortes : for it may bee taken for a comparison which Moses maketh , the better to declare , that the people which then liued , ought to bee so much the more diligent in the seruice of God , because they had receiued greater benefites than their fathers . In which sense he speaketh in Exodus , Exod. 6. 3. I haue not communicated this name to your fathers : where God speaking vnto Moses saith , that he declared not him self so plainly to bee God to Abraham , Isaac , and Iacob , as he did vnto Moses , And by this he signifieth , that the people should be now more attentiue , because God had reuealed himselfe vnto them after an vnaccustomed manner . Euen so in this place one may vnderstand this , God hath not made such a couenaunt with your fathers . It is true that God spake vnto his seruaunts Abraham , Isaac , & Iacob , and did sufficiently instruct them . And it is expresly said in the. Gen. 18 , 17 19. 18. of Gen. Shall I hide from my seruant Abraham that which I will now execute vpon Sodome , and Gomorra ? For I knowe that he will instruct his housholde in my decrees and ordinannces , in my statutes and iudgements . See then howe Abraham instructed his familie , not after some bare and naked manner , but in the iudgements and statutes and ordinaunces of the Lord , Briefly , wee must needes say that Abraham had the lawe of God imprinted in his heart : yet loe besides a benefite not to be contemned , when God hath sent this lawe in the two tables , to the end the instruction thereof might remaine and abide for euer to his people , and that the thinges therein conteined , might be ratified for euer , and testified to all posteritie as well as to them . We see then what we may gather vpon this sentence , euen as much as if Moses should haue said vnto the people , Beloued , acknowlege we the benefite the Lord bestoweth on vs this day , euen such an one as our fathers haue receiued none the like : for he deliuered not vnto them the lawe by writing , as vnto vs , he hath not declared to them these thinges in such plaine order . True it is , that he did sufficiently instruct them , & as much as was necessarie & requisite for their saluation - but here is yet an higher degree & further steppe , to which we are come at this day , and therefore wee ought to drawe so much the neerer to him , seeing we see that he hath so stooped vnto vs . And this is the meaning of Moses , if we vnderstand the place in this sense . As if a man shoulde say at this day , that God hath not done so to our fathers , as he hath done vnto vs . And this is that which Christ said to his disciples , Mat. . 13. 17 That many Kings and Prophets haue desired to see those thinges which you see , Luke ▪ 10. 24. & heare those thinges preached which you heare , and yet haue not had their desire . Seeing then it is so , that God of his infinite mercie & goodnesse vouchsafeth to preferre vs before the Patriarches and Prophetes , ( as it is also said , that the Prophets serued not so much their owne time as ours , ) we ought with greater diligence to suffer our selues to be taught vnder him , 1. Pet. 1. 12. & to applie our selues wholy to his doctrine . Notwithstanding , when all is well considered , although this we haue alledged be profitable , and the exhortation is often brought in holy Scripture , yet when we shall haue weighed all the wordes , wee shall finde that Moses , when he saith that God did not make his couenaunt with them which heard the lawe the first day it was published , meaneth to say , that not onely with them he made his couenaunt , but also with those which ouer liued them , and succeded in the place of those which were dead . So that in fewe woordes Moses woulde here declare , that the lawe was not transitorie , to endure onely for the life of them which first heard it , but that it was a doctrine which shoulde reteine his strength & authoritie foreuer . The Lord our God ( saith he ) hath not made a couenant with our fathers , that is to say , he woulde not onely haue our fathers for his people , he was not tied to them , so that his lawe should serue but for fortie or fiftie yeares , but he hath made a couenaunt with vs as well , and with them which were not borne when the lawe was published . You then which were not at the mount of Horeb , which haue not seene the fire on the montaine , nor heard the thunderinges , know you not withstanding that your God did then adopt you also to himselfe , and that he made a couenaunt , in the which you also were comprised . You must therefore obserue his lawe , because it hath bene established to bee perpetuall , to endure from age to age and to bee preached euen to the end of the worlde . And this is the true and naturall meaning of Moses . And from hence we may gather a good and profitable doctrine : namely , that although we were not at first when the Gospell was published , although wee haue not seene with our eyes those thinges which are mentioned in the lawe , yet ought we not therfore to haue in lesse estimation & price the authoritie of he word of God . And why ? I graunt that when God raised vp Moses , it was an especiall token of his fauour and goodnesse towards the people , which then liued : yet notwithstanding , the authoritie of the Lawe must not at any time bee diminished : for it conteineth the truth of God , which alwayes abideth , and is not variable and transitorie as men are . It is said , that men are as a flowre , Isaie ▪ 40. 6. 7. or as an herbe , which by and by drieth and withereth , but the truth of the Lord endureth for euer . 1. Pet. 1. 24. Now this truth which is vnchaungeable , is conteined in the Lawe . Truely the Lawe as touching the ceremonies is vtterly abolished : but as touching the substaunce & doctrine which it conteineth , it reteineth alwayes his force & power still : not one iot thereof falleth away or perisheth . So then let vs note , that though we haue not liued in the time of Moses , this serueth not to alledge , that we may therefore contemne the admonitions he hath geuen & are conteined in the lawe . And why ? For he hath spoken to vs , he hath not onely spoken to the multitude which was assembled at mount Horeb , but generally to the whole world . And if this be said of the lawe , by a greater & more strong reason is it to be said of the Gospel . For as we haue said , the law concerning the shadowes thereof is cleane done away , but the Gospel hath no such thing . For in it our Lord maketh a new & euerlasting testament , & a couenaunt to last from generation to generation . Howe then must we be affected , when the Gospel is preched ? We must remember that the sonne of God came into the world , not onely to instruct them , with whom he was conuersant in his manhood : but that he hath wonne vs to God his father , and hath called vs to saluation , by sending his Apostles , that their voice should sound to the endes of the worlde , to them which heard not him , to make them partakers of the doctrine of saluation : the which at this day also we ought to receiue , as if Iesus Christ were yet in the middest of vs , or as if the Apostles with their owne mouthes did speake vnto vs . And this is that which wee haue to beare in minde vppon this place , that we make no alteration in the Church of GOD , neither attempt to chaunge any thing in his woorde , knowing that he will alwayes haue kept therein one equall traine . For seeing that he hath deliuered vnto vs his Gospel , and stablished a certeine rule of regiment in the time of the Apostles , and in the primitiue Church , we must held the same , and thereon rest our selues . If we doe otherwise , it is as if wee woulde make the word of God mortall and corruptible with vs . So then let vs learne , that though the worlde be variable and inconstant , and hath euerie day his backturning : and though there bee none of vs , whiche hath not alwayes many gadding opinions , whiche trotte in our braine , that yet not withstanding , concerning that the word of God hath appointed , we are not to take that libertie , to doe at one time this , and at an other time that , as we list , and as we fansie . Wherefore ? Because God hath not made this couenaunt with our fathers , but with vs which are aliue at this day . As long then as we are in the world , let vs knowe , that Gods gouerning of vs , and his shewing vs the way , is to the end we should not be as wandering pilgrimes to stray hither and thither , and to raunge as our lustes and appetites turne vs : but that we should be conducted as by his hand . To be short , whereas Moses saith , Heare we that are all aliue at this day , it is to declare & proue , that men during their life time , ought not to forge any newe Lawe , that they ought not to haue to day one , to morrowe an other . And why ? For the life of man is in the lawe of God , which ought to suffice vs . Let vs then make our profite by regarding the thinges that tend therevnto . And further , it is no doubt , but Moses here chargeth the people with vnthankfulnesse which should be in them , if they dedicate not their liues to the seruice of God : as if he should say , How liue we ? Is it not for that the Lorde hath placed vs in this world ? If then our life we haue , be geuen of him : ought we not to bestowe it & employ it in his seruice ? Ought it not to be wholie consecrated to his will ? We see then how Moses reproueth here all them which wander , and continue not then course in the word of God . Let vs withall reteine in memorie that which I haue aboue touched , that is : that we haue not a doctrine for three dayes , but one wherein we must bee confirmed as long as we liue . Therfore when we haue once receiued and embraced that which is conteined in the holie scripture , let vs studie to profite our selues by it , and to go forward , encreasing in the knowledge & practise of it , till God shall drawe vs out of this world , knowing that he will vouchsafe to take vs into his couenaunt , and that he for his part will not be vnfaithfull and vnconstant , but sure and stedfast in his purpose and promise . Let vs doe the like , that we may be ioyned to him : and as long as we liue let vs haue no other purpose , but to cleaue vnto him , howbeit as he hath declared in his word . But let vs not thinke to ioyne and vnite our selues to our God by our owne fantasies : but since he commeth vnto vs , let vs goe vnto him , and when we are come thither , let vs take good heede to stay our selues there . And thus we see what we haue togather vpon this place , to the end we may the better bee disposed and prepared to receiue the instructions , which shall hereafter be geuen vs , concerning the lawe of God and his Commaundements .