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On Thursday the xxj. of Nouember. 1555. The Cvj. Sermon which is the fifth vpon the seuenteenth Chapter.
16.17.18 But hee shall not &c.
19 The which hee shall haue with him, and reade it all the dayes of his life, that hee may learne to feare the Lorde his God, and keepe all the wordes of the Lawe, and the Ordinaunces to doe them:
20 That he lift not vp his heart aboue his brethren, nor turne not from the cō∣maundement to the right hand or to the left, that he may indure long in his king∣dome, both he and his sonnes in the middes of Israel.
WE sawe yesterday why GOD commaunded kings to haue a booke of the law. For although they had beene taught afore, yet when they were come to that state, it stoode them in hand to thinke that they had more neede than euer they had to rule themselues by Gods word, considering how hard a thing it is to gouerne a people, and that God must be faine to worke in that behalfe, and men must acknowledge them∣selues far too weake, that they may seeke ye help [ 30] that is needeful for them; namely to be guyded by God, and for attainment thereof apply their studie to his worde. For it is in vaine for vs to hope that God will giue vs counsel, vnlesse wee seeke it in his lawe. If a man say that God will wel ynough giue him his spirite, & yet in ye mean while despise all the helpes, as the reading of ye holy scripture, & the hearing of Sermons: is it not a mocking of him? And so ye see wherefore [ 40] it behoueth the kings to haue a booke of ye lawe. There is a saying of a heathen man which is ta∣ken for a common prouerb, namely that ye com∣mon weale is happie where wise men holde the helme, or where such as hold the helme do giue themselues to wisedome. And that is a very rare thing. But yet men see that al this is very true: For when men are chosen to gouerne a people, it is meete yt they should haue wit and reason in them. And it is not ynough for a man to bee of some courage & discretion aforehande ere hee [ 50] take the gouernment vpon him; but he must al∣so indeuer to profit continually when he is come to it, and thereunto doth euen experience itself prouoke him: for our true wisedome is to har∣ken to God when he speaketh to vs, and to obey his doctrine. So then wee see how needful it was for kinges to bee exhorted to read Gods worde most specially, and to giue themselues thereto, as wel for shewing example vnto others, as also for necessities sake, euen because their charge is [ 60] ouerhard & high, surmounting all capacitie of man.
Now it is said expressely, that they may learne to feare the Lord, without turning either to the right hand or to the left. For it is not ynough for a king to haue a booke in his palace for fashions sake. It were to no purpose to make a faire shewe, as who should say, Looke yonder, there is the lawe of God, Gods booke is in the kings palace, as we see how the worlde contenteth it selfe continu∣ally with ceremonies. And in deede, the Iewes being peruerters of all things, and so farre pos∣sessed with the diuel that they haue gone about to deface the substance & whole power of Gods worde, whensoeuer this booke came in question among them, O say they, it must be written in such manner of parchement, & it must haue this & that done vnto it. But these things are more than childish, and yet in the meane while they haue let the chiefe thing alone. Let vs marke then that Gods intent was not to make a booke that should be as a relike, to be shewed for a bra∣uerie that the king might haue a marke of his dignitie aboue all others: but the reason that is set downe here, is that he should learne to feare God. Now although this bee spoken expressely concerning the kings of Israel, (as was declared yesterday:) yet is it verie good reason, that they which are magistrates at this day, (considering that their gouerning is in the name of our Lord Iesus,) shoulde set their mindes vppon the do∣ctrine of saluation, & indeuer to profit therin, ai∣ming alwayes at the marke which God hath set before thē, namely to learn to feare him, know∣ing wel that vnlesse they haue the feare of God it is vnpossible for them to glorifie him, and al thinges within a while must needs goe to ha∣uocke.
And by the way, let vs marke also, that here the holy Ghost meant to shewe vs the vse of the holy scripture. For (as saith Saint Paul) it is behoofefull to make the man of God perfect in all good workes. Therefore whensoeuer we read the holy Scripture or heare it preached; let vs haue this regarde of profiting in the feare of God; and let vs not think our selues to be so far forwarde, that wee shoulde not neede to go on still all our life long. A man might thinke it strange that it shoulde bee sayde, that he should learne to feare God. For why? Shoulde a king bee a nouice when hee is once chosen? Ought hee not to bee well knowen aforehande to bee a man of excellent vertue? Yes verily. But yet doeth it stande vs in hande to bee learners still: