common order, and according to that vse and fashion wherewith men ought to content them∣selues, if they had any stayednesse or sobrietie in them. Wee see (I say) howe men giue the bridle to their lustes, and take to themselues such lawlesse libertie, that there is nothing but a mingle mangle in the whole order of nature. Nowe our Lorde minding to holde his people in some modestie, hath spoken in this place more grossely, and vnder certaine particular [ 10] thinges, meant to shewe them, howe he liketh of plaine simplicitie, to the intent hee might restraine such straunge deuises as dayly arise, and that men although their lusts bee so tick∣lish, should not be ouercurious, but liue and hold themselues in such contentation, as to say: Well, that which the Lord hath giuen vs ought to suffice vs if any reason might content vs. And therefore let vs not bee set vppon such wande∣ring fansies as alwayes to deuise some thing or [ 20] other without any ende, neither let euerie man bring his peece of deuise, and trauayle vainely in martyring themselues to satisfie their inor∣dinate desires: but let vs enioye the benefites which GOD hath bestowed vppon vs, howbeit in such wise as that wee remember howe his minde is that wee shoulde vse them soberlie. Ye see then what the meaning of God is which we haue to beare in minde touching this place.
Nowe a man might treat very largely of eue∣ry [ 30] sentence, & yet we in the meane while should reape small profite therby: because wee should not vnderstand the true marke which God heere amed at. We must therefore begin at this point▪ yt is to wit, to know why God forbad the Iewes to sowe in this sorte diuers ••eedes in one vineyard, to cloath themselues with garmentes of diuers thinges, and to plowe their ground with an oxe and an asse. But let vs nowe returne to euery of these lawes. It is said That a man shall not mingle [ 40] seedes together: as it is spoken heereof likewise in the 19. Chapter of Leuiticus. For God there vseth a preface saying, Yee shal keepe my sta∣tutes. And hee doeth it because wee alwaies al∣leage examples to cloake our faultes withall, and beare our selues in hande, that if others doe any thing, all ought to bee lawefull for vs. But God bereaueth his people of all such excuses by saying. Know yee that I am your gouernour: follow me, and hold your ••elues to my will. And [ 50] this word is well worth the noting, to the intent we bethinke our selues well that if the Lord haue once giuen vs his word to the contrary, we must not presume on the liberty of dooing that which is commonly vsed among others. And why? Sith God is so gratious vnto vs as to guide vs, let vs stay ourselues on him.
But now he saith, Ye shal not sow diuers seeds. And why? for (saith he) so thou mightest sanctifie that which thou hast sowen and the fruit also which might come of [ 60] thy vine. Now this term of sanctifying or hallow∣ing betokeneth as much as if it were said: thou shalt bereaue thy selfe of thy vine, and of the fruite which thou shouldest gather thereof. And GOD sheweth heereby, howe his will is that there should be true and plaine dealing among the people of Israell, and that if a man sowe corne, hee should make such lawefull mar∣chandise thereof without any mingling, as that a man might say: see heere is Wheate, here is Barely, here are Beanes, heere are Pease, when euery graine is seueral by it selfe. For if the seede bee not pure, what shall come thereof, but that the people shall be deceiued? And besides that also there shall not be one simple and naturall maner of foode as ought to bee. Moreouer here is mention made of sowing the Vineyardes, by∣cause that in those countries the vines are very large: for they are bigger than ours, and in fa∣shion like, but they be very large, and the grapes also very great, insomuch that there they must haue more roome or space for them. In effect we see now how our Lordes meaning was, that the ground should be so sowen yt the vittailes which were sold among his people, should be simple & all in their seueral kindes, and herein he compri∣seth that which we haue aboue touched, namely that men shoulde alter nothing but maintaine the order of nature.
But now if the corne be falsly mingled in the garner, is it not all one, yea and more too, than if the corne had bin mingled in the field? There∣fore when that which ought to serue for ye nou∣rishment of men, is so chaunged from his owne kinde▪ there is no true dealing therein. And yet for all that, we see how suttle men are in this be∣halfe and howe they will ye•• alwayes haue some new fashions, some for their lu••re, & othersome for some other respect, or to feede some curious humor of theirs. It were much better we helde fast ye order which our Lord hath appointed. For yt is the very rule which we ought to follow. And although there were no great euill in dooing o∣therwise, yet we ought alwayes to hold vs here∣unto. Seeing God hath deliuered vs this rule, yt there should be simplicitie or singlenes as I may terme it among vs: let vs followe it. But wee see farther, yt al these medlies which are made in things, proceede either frō some craftie wilines & deceit: or from a certaine curiositie & ambiti∣on: and secondly that they tend vnto a wicked gaine; namely when men haue no regard vnto ye losse of their neighbour, but euery man is giuen ouermuch to think on himself, as who wold say: O this will serue my turne very well, I shall haue the better vtterance of it, & the thing will not be so easily espied; or else it will passe well ynough with other ware, and it will be neuerthelesse e∣steemed; but I shall finde vppon my reckening▪ that it was so much ye more to my gaine. There∣fore sith we see that these medlies proceede frō so euill a roote, and tend to so wicked an end, are they not to bee doublie condemned? Yes veri∣ly. But yet herewithall let vs beare in minde▪ (as I haue tolde you before) that when GOD woulde not that the seedes should be mingled in the fielde, hee forbad aswell all other mixtures which are made of any wicked purpose. If wine bee newe brewed in the Hogsheade, is it not as yll or rather woorse then if one vsed