remaines no excuse for you, if you worship him not as your GOD. Either ye must forsake him through wilfull rebellion, or else ye must needes graunt that there is neither power, Maiestie, nor glorie in the whole worlde, other than that which was shewed vnto you, when the lawe was giuen you.
But let vs marke by the way, that Moses matcheth here the worde with the myracles. For the myracles had booted them nothing at [ 10] all, if doctrine had not bene matched therewith, as hath beene touched heretofore. But yet is it good for vs to bee put in minde of it againe, and it is not for nought also that the holy Ghost re∣peateth it in this text: and wee shall see it men∣tioned yet againe hereafter. If the people of Is∣rael had but onely had some visions, to doe them to vnderstand which was the liuing God that had brought them out of the lande of Egypt, and in the meane whyle had bene let alone in [ 20] their ignoraunce, so as they had had no lawe, no rule, no promise of saluation, no instruction of Religion: all the rest had beene to no purpose. It is true that they might haue liued, being once deliuered from bondage: but what had the end of it bene? They had become but a barbarous people, and they had corrupted themselues with superstitions as the Gentiles did. But when as God, (after his declaring of himselfe vnto them, and after his shewing of his Maiestie vnto them [ 30] as it were in a myrrour or rather a liuely pic∣ture) did also teache them and giue them a sure Lawe: he ledde them into a Religion that was sacred and holy. And so yee see that God gaue them such an euidence as was fitte for their sal∣uation.
Now remaineth how Moses addeth, That the people hauing heard Gods voyce, continued still aliue. Whereby he doeth vs to vnderstande: that it is a speciall grace of God that wee bee not consu∣med [ 40] by his presence and by his worde. It is saide that the mountaines melt at the sight of him. And againe, that if he doe but cast his eye vp∣on the whole earth, it quaketh. For Gods Maie∣stie in it selfe is so terrible, as it were ynough to sink the whole worlde. When he speaketh, his voyce doeth not onely scare all creatures, but al∣so vtterly dismay them, yea and euen bring them to nothing. Therefore it is a great myracle, that mortall men being so frayle and brickle, and be∣ing [ 50] no better than a shadowe: are inabled to heare Gods voyce, and yet are not consumed thereby. So then, Moses sheweth here, y• God did not onely make the people of Israel to perceiue his Maiestie & heauenly power: but also gaue thē a louing taste of his grace and goodnesse there∣withal, to the intent they should not be too much dismaied at it, but rather haue their wits at liber∣tie and well setled to acknowledge, Beholde, my God hath shewed himself to mee, & therefore it [ 60] is good reason yt I shoulde serue him and submit my self wholly vnto him. Thus in effect wee see two things: wherof the one is that God shewed not himselfe to his people without teaching thē by his word: & the other is, yt the same word was not only so warranted as they might know it to be the word of God, and submit themselues vnto it: but also was made sweete & amiable so farre forth as was requisite. The people could not but bee partly afraide (as I haue declared alreadie) when they perceiued the Maiestie of God: but yet howsoeuer they fared, God did so moderate his rigour, as they perceiued him to be their fa∣ther in that he shewed them such reason.
Moses addeth immediatly, Was there euer any God that tooke vppon him to bring a people from among other people, by temptations, signes, wonders, warres, and a stretched out arme, as thou knowest that thy God hath done in bringing thee out of Egypt? Here Moses purposeth expressely to confirme the people in the Religion that had bin giuen them, to the intent they shoulde not yeeld themselues to any of the great nomber of superstitions that raigned eueriwhere at the same time, as wee bee commonly wont to doe. Truely if a people haue auncient customes, they bee loth to forgo them. And why? Bicause pride maketh vs to like well of the thinges that growe in our owne gardine, (as they say:) and to our seeming, all that euer o∣ther men haue is nothing in comparison of that [which is our owne.] But if God call vs to him, and teach vs faithfully what we haue to doe: we be so wildheaded as we cannot abide the things that are shewed vs. We fall to seeking of this & that: behold (say we,) in such a Countrie there is such a custome & such a fashion: & why should not wee haue the same as well as they? Also wee see howe the vnbeleeuers vpbraide Gods chil∣dren that they will needes bee too wise, if they hold themselues in awe vnder Gods word. What is it that the Papists do cast vs in the teeth with∣all now adayes? These are the men (say they) which take vpon them to renew the world, they will needes be singular by themselues, as though they had nothing at all to doe with the rest of mankinde. For this cause doeth Moses say here, Passe not you for it though you see so manye Nations haue diuers fashions, so as euery of thē hath a Religion contrarie to yours, and that you be alone by your selues. For why? Your God hath chosen you in such sort, as he hath shewed you that ye may bee bold to defie all other nati∣ons. For hath it euer come to passe, that any god hath taken vppon him to conuey a people from out of the mids of another people? Seeing then that you are so shooled out, haue yee not a sure warrant that GOD will not haue you to min∣gle your selues with other Nations? Therefore if ye haue an eye to Gods bringing of you out of the lande of Egypt, ye shall alwaies bee put in minde, that the Religion which ye hold of him is good and holy, and ye may hold scorne of all other religions in the world. And moreouer, al∣though other nations bee greater than you: yet may ye be bold to spit at their superstitions. For God hath sufficiently shewed, that he hath not giuen you his Lawes and Ordinances in vaine. And why? For he hath brought you out by your selues: which neuer befell to any people of the world but you.
And to the end that these things should bee the better esteemed: Moses sheweth here, that