On Thursday the ix. of May. 1555. The xvij. Sermon, which is the third vpon the third Chapter.
23 And at the same time I prayed vnto the Lord, saying:
24 O Lord God, thou hast begun to shew thy seruant thy greatnesse and thy mightie hand. For what God is there in heauen or earth, that can doe according to thy workes, and according to thy mightinesse?
25 I beseech thee let me goe and see the good lande that is beyond Iordan, and this goodly mountaine, and Libanus.
* 1.1I Tolde you heretofore that Mo∣ses made mention how God had [ 30] bereft him of the benefite and honour of entering into the land of promise, for the sinne of the people. Nowe he rehearseth the same matter againe, howbeit to another ende. For it was conuenient that the people should be done to vnderstande, that they shoulde not al∣wayes haue such a leader. To the intent there∣fore that the exhortations which Moses ma∣keth, might be the better receiued, and the peo∣ple [ 40] take the better heede to them: hee telleth them that he must leaue them, and that he shall not haue leaue to passe ouer Iordan. That is his meaning, wherof I shal speake more fully hereaf∣ter. In the meane season, let vs see what he saith here. First of all he reherseth that he besought god, that he might enter into the promised lande. But hee had alredie had the sentence of condemnation, that hee might not goe. It shoulde seeme then that he resisteth God as much as in him lyeth, [ 50] and that hee cannot finde in his heart to admit his saying. And in deede wee cannot vtterly ex∣cuse him that hee did not amisse. For we cannot bee tickled with so small a desire contrarie to Gods will: but wee bee by and by blameworthie. But when wee be so bolde as to come vnto God, to make a request cleane contrarie to his will: then is the offence double.* 1.2 And why? For the foundation of all our prayers is faith. But there can bee no faith without Gods promise. Who so [ 60] then commeth to cast out his pangs, & desireth of God the thing that hee knoweth shall mislike him: doth he not passe his bounds? Doth he not goe cleane contrarie to that which the rule of praying will beare? Yes. Now, this was seene in Moses, and therefore it followeth that hee did a∣misse. And indeede the aunswere sheweth it. For like as God was angrie with him before,* 1.3 be∣cause he had not glorified him in the strife that the people moued for want of drinke: so is hee angrie with him nowe againe. Though we had none other witnesse, euen this ought to suffice vs, that God doeth expresly shutte the gate a∣gainst him for the time to come, that he shoulde no more returne vnto him. Heereby wee bee done to vnderstande, that wee must bee earnest in repressing our desires, and in bridling them. For hardly is there any man to bee founde, that euer yeelded himselfe so pliable to obey God, as Moses was, Let vs seeke on all sides, [and yet shall we not finde one.] It is certaine that Mo- was an excellent mirrour of meekenesse, and such a one as had his minde vtterly brought downe, so as he sought not to followe any thing which was not commaunded him from aboue. And yet for all that, it appeareth that he coulde not so restraine and ouermaster himself, but that there was some excesse in his affections. If this befell to Moses who had beene accustomed to o∣bey God in all pointes: howe shall we do which haue pro••ited so euill in that behalfe? So then, we see heere a deede which sheweth vs what the cheefe exercise and studie of Gods children is: namely to subdue their affections, that it may not befall them to desire any thing, but such as they knowe doeth please GOD. For that is the onely rule whereby to discerne good from bad. Marke that for one point.
Moreouer wee muste not staie vppon the outwarde apparance. If wee haue a desire to a thing, although the same seeme good and iust, yet must wee not thinke that it is therefore law∣full. For if wee looke vppon Moses desire, e∣uerie of vs will say it was holy. Yea and wee