there is repentance. True it is, that it is in him to giue repentance. But howsoeuer the worlde goe, when his will is to vtter his goodnesse to∣wardes any man, he toucheth his heart that he may returne vnto him. Now then, shall we looke vpon such as are fully bent to blaspheme God to the vttermost, and yet in the meane while talke to them of mercie still? Ought we not rather to spit in the faces of such villaines, which mocke God and his word to the ful? Yes: and therfore let [ 10] vs beare simply in minde, that wee must followe the things which God commaundeth, and that it is not for vs to alledge any thing at all in that behalfe.
And on the otherside let vs marke also, that God meant not to resigne his vengeaunce vnto men, & to giue them leaue to hurt their enemies when they shall haue offended them. Then if we do the worst we can to mē when they haue grie∣ued vs or done vs any wrong, vnder colour that [ 20] God hath told vs that he would haue the vngod∣ly rooted out: it is a taking of a false couert from the word of God. Therefore let vs note that wee must not be led with any affection, neither must we passe whether any wrong or hinderance haue bin wrought vs or no: for as long as mens minds run vppon their priuate griefes, they shall neuer serue God: but we must haue this consideration with vs, of doing that which God commaundeth vs, without being mooued by any fleshly moode. [ 30] Marke that for a speciall point.
Againe, let vs not deale further than God bid∣deth vs, but let vs bee faithfull executers of his words, & not stir one finger further than he saith, do thus or thus. To be short, he yt giueth his ene∣my but a fillup, is giltie of murder before god. But he that putteth a wicked mā to death, not being led thereto by any wicked affection, but bicause his office requireth it: is iust and allowed of God, and his executing of such punishment is a sacri∣fice [ 40] vnto him. According as wee see that Moses speaketh therof, specially when the idolatrie that the people had committed was to bee punished, in which case he saieth, Sanctifie your hands vn∣to ye Lord. And how? What maner of holines was it wherof Moses spake there? It was yt they should kill all the idolaters that had defiled themselues, & put the corrupters of ye true religion to death. And whom commanded he to doe it? Euen ye Le∣uites, euen those which ought to haue bin y• mir∣rors [ 50] of al pitie & louingkindnes. Euen the Priests whō God had dedicated to himselfe were neuer∣thelesse appointed to be the executers of yt rigor. And vppon whom? Euen vppon their owne kins∣folke, and they might not beare with them. See∣ing then that we see this: let vs learne that such as do Iustice, (condicionally that they intermin∣gle not their owne affections and reuenges, but indeuour to serue God & to execute the charge that is committed vnto them,) do sanctifie their [ 60] hands in so doing, and the rigour which they vse is cōmendable. That is to say, if they haue com∣passion vpon ye poore creatures that perish: then yt rigour of theirs being so qualified, is an accep∣table sacrifice vnto God. And on the contrarie part, if we doe but stirre one finger vpon displea∣sure for any wrong that is done vnto vs, yea or be but prouoked to grunt at them yt shall haue mis∣vsed vs: by and by it is murther before God. And so let vs learne, not to seeke fond excuses to re∣uenge our selues, vnder pretēce yt God hath told vs that the wicked must be destroyed and rooted out: but let vs haue a good and well stayed zeale, so as we ouershoot not our selues to say that mē may step forth to do this or yt on their own heads, but yt they must tarie til God haue giuē sentence, and then execute the same, as we see is said of it in this text. Thus we see in effect what we haue to remember, cōcerning the rooting out of those whō God knowing to be past amendment, would not suffer to welter any lōger in their own dung, bicause he had borne with them ynough and too much alreadie.
And it is said expresly, God hath deliuered them into thy hand to put them to death. This is a watch∣word which he giueth to his people, to the intent they should the willinglier obey this comman∣dement. As if he should say, he that will giue you the victorie, willeth you to deale so. And is it not reason [then that ye should do it?] Yes, for howe should wee vse Gods giftes, but according to his will? So then, Moses confirmeth the doctrine that he setteth forth to the people: as if he should say, Looke about thee, thou must not dispose after thine owne pleasure, of them whō thou shalt o∣uercome. For if thou spare them vnder colour yt thou hast subdued them, and that they be in thy hand, & that yu hast conquered thē: it wil cost thee right deare. For commeth the victorie of thy self? No: but it is thy God which hath deliuered them into thy hand. And for proo••e therof, these natiōs are stronger and mightier than thou, yea and mo in nomber. How then could you discomfit them, if your God ouermaistred them not, & were not your Captain, & fought not for you? If the victo∣rie were not giuen you from heauen: how could you obtaine it? Nowe then, come not heere to make your vauntes, and to say, wee may not dis∣pose of the victorie as wee list our selues. For it commeth of God, and therefore he must beare all the sway, and you must vse such humilitie, as he may bee obeyed, and honoured for the thing which you knowe to come of him. Thus we see now the intent of Moses.
And hereby we be warned, that in all thinges which GOD putteth into our handes, wee must beware that wee take not too great liber∣tie, to vse his benefites at our owne pleasure. For it is good reason that hee shoulde alwayes haue so much credite with vs, as to shewe vs the lawfull vse of his benefites. As howe? Let vs take y• commonest example of eating and drin∣king. When God hath giuen a man abundance of worldly goods, hee must not forget him to whom he is beholdē for them. For if he say, this is mine, I will doe with it as I list: it is a defrau∣ding of God of the right that hee reserueth to himselfe. It is true that wee may well terme the thinges ours which he hath giuen vs: howbeit, that is with condition that they must alwaies re∣maine at his deuotion, and wee vse them sober∣ly and modesty as I haue saide afore, so as hee