A briefe exposition of such chapters of the olde testament as vsually are redde in the church at common praier on the Sondayes set forth for the better helpe and instruction of the vnlearned. By Thomas Cooper Bishop of Lincolne.

The exposition vpon the .viij. Chapter of Deuteronomie.

All the commaundements whych I com∣maunde thee this day.* 1.1 &c.

FOrsomuche as the Israelites were not nowe far of from the land of Ca∣naan, Moyses putteth them in minde therof, and signifieth that the same God which did require them to be

obedient vnto hys lawe was nowe euen at the poynt to fulfill his promise, and to set them in possession of that countrey, and therefore, that they shoulde be more willing and readye to fo∣low him, and to obserue his ordinances.

He willeth them also to haue in remēbrance how God vsed them in the wildernesse for the space of fourtie yeares,* 1.2 by hunger, thirst & some other aduersityes* trying them whether they would remaine his faithfull and obediente peo∣ple or no.* 1.3 For God did not bring them into those distresses,* 1.4 and lacke of foode & other things ne∣cessary, bicause he hated them, but as a good fa∣ther, to proue them and humble their hearts be∣fore him, and that they might learne and vnder∣stand, that man liueth not by bread onely, but by euery word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. For thoughe there were no foode in the world to sustaine mans life, yet is God hable by his diuine prouidence miraculously to preserue vs. As he did feede them in the wildernesse with *Manna from heauen,* 1.5 a foode that neither they nor their forefathers euer heard of: and caused the stony* rocke to yelde them water to quenche their thirst,* 1.6 yea and moreouer caused their ray∣ment in fourtie yeares space neuer to *weare or consume,* 1.7 nor theyr feete to swell or be greeued wyth contynuall trauayle.

These strange things wrought he, that they mighte learne to put their truste in him, and be well assured, that so great daunger could neuer

come vnto them, but that he was hable, & rea∣dily woulde deliuer them oute of it, if they dyd faithfully serue him. And therfore Moyses wyl∣leth them to harken vnto this theyr gracious Lord, to feare him, and to walke in his wayes.

For the Lord thy God bringeth thee in∣to a good lande.* 1.8 &c.

Moyses describeth vnto them the *fertile and plentifull countrey,* 1.9 that God had prouided for them,* 1.10 flowing with aboundance of all fruites, commodities & delectable pleasures:* 1.11 that they might be the more *willing and ready to shewe their thankfull obedience towarde him.* 1.12

If the same land of Canaan be not at this day so fertile, as is here reported, nor answerable to many parts of Moyses his description, but lieth in a great part wast, as some trauailers declare, we may not thinke it straunge. For beside the mutation that naturallie may come to any coū∣trey in the space of .3000. yeares, it pleased God of his goodnes at this time here mentioned, to make it y^• more fruitfull bicause of his chosē peo∣ple, that he promised to place there, which good blessing may well be thought to haue continued so long as his people kept his commaūdement, and contynued in any tollerable obedience of the lawes and ordinaunces by him appoynted.

But when they both fell from the true ob∣seruation of the outwarde lawe, and also re∣iected

the true Messias and Sauioure of the worlde, no meruaile, if that curse fell both vpon them & their land, which, before, God had of∣tentimes threatened, whereby great alteration therof might fall.

When thou haste eaten therefore and fylled thy selfe,* 1.13 thou shalt blesse. &c.

The Israelites are here warned in the time of their prosperitie,* 1.14 & the enioying of Gods bene∣fites, that they shew themselues thankfull,* 1.15 & er∣nestly to take hede that in time of their* wealth they waxe not wanton & forget God,* 1.16 by whose goodnesse they are in that felicitie.* 1.17

Howe necessary this admonition might then be to them and is also presently to all other, the common course of mans lyfe righte well decla∣reth. What one among an hundred is there, which by wealth & continuall successe doth not wax insolent and forget his duety toward God? Moises in his song chap. 32. of this booke, saith of the Israelites. Thou art vvel fedde, Thou are growē thicke,* 1.18 Thou arte euen laden vvith fatnesse: and he hath forsaken God his maker, & Regarded not the Lord of his saluation. In which wordes he pro∣phecied before hand, what wold come to passe a∣mong them, and therfore ernestly he willeth thē here to take hede. VVhen thou hast eaten & filled thy selfe, saith he, and builded goodly houses. &c. Bevvare least thy hearte rise, and thou forgette the Lorde thy God.

Here he noteth wherby mē in such case ar mo∣ued to forget God, that is, Rising of their hearte with pride & insolencie of minde. For fewe there are, that in great wealth & prosperitie can holde themselues within the boundes of modestie and humblenesse,* 1.19 but so sone as they perceiue them selues to flourish & be * aloft,* 1.20 their minde also in such sort swelleth with selfliking,* 1.21 that they doe not onely contemne other, but let slippe also the feare of God himselfe, and by litle & litle are ca∣ried on, through the allurement of Satan, that they cleane fal from him.* 1.22 Let Solomon hereof be a notable example: and Christ himself said, That it was as hard for a rich man to enter into the king∣dome of God,* 1.23 as for a Camell to go through a nee∣dels eye. Therefore Moyses calleth the Israelites to remembrance, and willeth them not to forget what they were in Egipt and in the wildernesse, and how louingly & mercifully God then dealte for them,* 1.24 & gaue them * all things at their nede, that by that meanes they might the sooner ac∣knowledge him to be the * authour and worker of al their prosperitie,* 1.25 and so continne in his true worship and obedience. Otherwise if they goe from their Lord & God, and giue themselues to the worshipping of strange gods, he protesteth & denounteth to them, that they shall assuredly perishe, and be destroyed, in like maner as they had seene God to worke the confusion of other nations before their faces. For where the mer∣cie of God and his bountifull goodnesse eyther

is abused, or will not preuaile, his Iustice and seueritie must needes take place.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Verse. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
• * 1.2

  Exo. 20. c. 20
• * 1.3

  Ju. 2. d. 21. 22 1.
• * 1.4

  Pe. 1. b. 6. 7
• * 1.5

  Exo, 16. d. 15
• * 1.6

  Exo. 17. b. 6.
• * 1.7

  Deu. 29. a. 5.
• * 1.8

  Verse. 7. 8. 9.
• * 1.9

  Ex. 3. a. 8.
• * 1.10

  Nu. 13. f. 28.
• * 1.11

  Deu. 6. a. 3.
• * 1.12

  Je. 11. a. 4. 5.
• * 1.13

  Verse. 10.
• * 1.14

  Exo. 32. b. 6.
• * 1.15

  Neh. 9. e. 25
• * 1.16

  Eze. 16. f. 49 3.
• * 1.17

  reg. 14. b. 7.
• * 1.18

  Deu. 32. c. 15.
• * 1.19

  2. pa. 26. c. 16.
• * 1.20

  Judit. 1. c. 7.
• * 1.21

  Pro. 1. d. 32.
• * 1.22

  3. reg. 11. a. 14
• * 1.23

  Ma. 19. d. 24
• * 1.24

  Deut. 2. b. 7.
• * 1.25

  Psal. 22 a. ••.