himselfe to deface Gods glorie: but shewed that God wrought by him and by his meanes.
Furthermore, whereas hee saieth that the children of Manasses, that is to say the halfe tribe, together with the whole tribes of Ruben and Gad bounde themselues by the promise that is rehearsed in the booke of Numeri, to goe before the Lorde that is to say in his presence: it is well woorth the marking: for it serueth to ex∣presse the better, with what loyaltie they went [ 10] to it. For if wee set not our eye vppon God: there will alwayes bee some feynednesse in our promi∣ses, and in all our dealings, so as wee shall neuer goe to worke soundly and substantially. Wee knowe that naturally men are double harted, and that they paint and disguise their doings, insomuch that if it were possible for them, they woulde keepe no touch in any thing that they promise, longer than it were for their owne pro∣fite, or at leastwise vnlesse they were driuen to it [ 20] for verie shame. To bee short, there wil bee no faithfulnesse in vs, except GOD ouerlooke vs, and wee looke vp to him in all our doings. And that is the cause why the men that were assigned their possession, did sweare to their brethren, euen in Gods presence, that GOD might bee a witnesse to punish their leaudnesse, if there were any guile, feyning, or treacherie at al in their case.
Hereby wee bee warned, that whenso∣euer [ 30] wee make any bargaine or couenant: wee muste not onely haue ame to the partie with whome wee haue to doe: but wee must al∣so as it were set GOD among vs, and keepe our faith and promise to him that wee haue bounde our selues, as though GOD watched vs at euerie steppe, and that wee coulde not so soone worke deceite towardes any man, but that by and by GOD woulde steppe before vs to withstande it. That is the thing which wee [ 40] haue to doe: but there are verie fewe of vs that thinke vppon it. For although the name of God bee called vppon, and solemne othes taken, and promises made autentically ynough, yea and that there bee order of Lawe to make vs feele his maiestie: yet doe most men shut their eyes, and in all the promises and othes that are made, [commonly] there is nothing sought but to deceiue one another. He that is suttle∣lest and fullest of shiftes, is the handsommest [ 50] man: and such kinde of dealing is esteemed as a vertue. And why? For euerie man runnes gadding after his owne lustes and likings, yea & that in such wise, that they bee as blindfoldings to keepe vs from seeing God. Though wee thinke not vppon it nowe: yet will not God for∣get any of our deceites, spytes, trecheries, and falshoodes which wee commit against men. For hee hath tolde vs, that when an othe is taken betweene man and man: his glorie is defaced [ 60] and himselfe openly mocked, if the promise be broken. Therefore let vs bee wel assured that he wil not put vp such wrong, & that although wee bee neuer so blinde, yet will not hee play the blinkarde on his side, but will note and marke euery whit of it to bring it to account. And so yee see what wee haue to marke heere for one point.
By way wee see, that none but such as make lawful couenāts can make thē as in Gods sight. For as many as doe lewdly linke themselues to∣gether to helpe one another in naughtinesse, (as to confounde all right, to make wicked shiftes, to worke outrages, to oppresse men, or to main∣taine themselues in their vnthriftinesse): as manie (I say) as conspyre after that fashion, are all faine to seeke lurkingholes: they are loth to shewe themselues to God or to come in his pre∣sence: nay they must rather shrinke away from him, but they cannot. Yet notwithstanding, the wicked sort doe fall asleepe, when they make those shamefull and detestable confederacies of theirs: they bee faine to holde themselues there as it were in the darke, and to shunne Gods pre∣sence as much as they can. So much the more then doth it stande vs on hande to remember this text, that in all our promises and in all our doings, wee may deale as in Gods sight, assu∣ring our selues that hee is euer at hande to take notice of our couenaunts, and to beare wit∣nesse of them, yea and to gouerne and direct all thinges aright, if wee proceede vprightly and soundely. And so yee see what wee haue to marke.
Nowe heere is yet moreouer a certaine vp∣rightnesse to bee kept, whereof Moses speaketh when he commaundeth the Rubenytes and Ga∣dytes to goe conquer the rest of the lande with their brethren, notwithstanding that they had their portion alreadie beyonde Iordan. Heereby wee be warned, first that if God haue vnyted vs in one bodie or corporation: one part of vs must not withdrawe our selues from the charges [〈◊〉〈◊〉 the common weale,] as if wee woulde say, let vs exempt our selues, and let the rest shifte for themselues: but it behoueth euerie man to im∣ploy himselfe to the benefite of the whole state, and that hee which coulde shift for himselfe a∣lone, shoulde not forbeare to take part with his brethren, and to put vnder his shoulder (as they say) to beare a peece of the burthen. This might bee declared more fully: but a glaunce will serue our turne well ynough, and the chee∣fest matter is, that wee must put it well in pra∣ctise. Then let vs marke well, that if GOD haue knitte vs into one bodie, wee must all doe the office of members, as we see howe the foote serueth the hande, the hande the eye, and euery other part imployeth it selfe according to his se∣uerall propertie and power, so as all redoundeth to the benefite of the whole.
Likewise muste wee obserue the same right∣full and reasonable order of dealing, when GOD hath set vs in one common weale. It was well knowen of the wretched Paynims, that there coulde bee no good ciuill order in the worlde, if euerie man were giuen to his owne profite. If the hande shoulde separate it selfe and refuse to serue the rest of the bodie, and the rest of the members also: Yee see there woulde bee a good sort of pieces: but in the meane while they should all die and of necessity