A17698:1195
Sermons upon Deuteronomy
The sermons of M. John Calvin upon the fifth book of Moses called Deuteronomy faithfully gathered word for word as he preached them in open pulpit; together with a preface of the ministers of the Church of Geneva, and an admonishment made by the deacons there. Also there are annexed two profitable tables, the one containing the chief matters; the other the places of Scripture herein alleged. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding.The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the fifth booke of Moses called Deuteronomie faithfully gathered word for word as he preached them in open pulpet; together with a preface of the ministers of the Church of Geneua, and an admonishment made by the deacons there. Also there are annexed two profitable tables, the one containing the chiefe matters; the other the places of Scripture herein alledged. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding.
London: printed by Henry Middleton for George Bishop, 1583
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And whereas Moses speaketh afterward of the great and goodly Cities, of houses full of goods, of vineyards, olive gardens, and of all §40other commodities: it is to make the people to understand the better, that God dealt not niggardly with them, but had poured forth his treasures, to the intent that they should be the more provoked to serve him. And that is another point well worthy to be marked. For so long as God dealeth with us but after the ordinary manner, we will not perceive that he is willing to be our father, because we consider but the order of nature and stand musing thereupon. That then §50was the cause why God vouchsafed to add the full measure of all liberality, by handling his people as is showed here, so as he gave them not a mean land, that was neither barren nor abundant, of which sort some are to be found: but he gave them fair and strong cities, houses throughly furnished, and grounds throughly manured. Seeing it is so: the people ought to have bin the more provoked to acknowledge, that seeing God had showed himself so bountiful,§60 it became not them to fall a sleep, but to know him to whom they were so greatly bound. And it is said expressly here, that the people should possess the things which they had not made, or gotten to themselves. There is not any thing of thine own labour, saith he. Diddest thou build the houses wherein thou dwellest or shalt dwell? (For he speaketh here of the time to come.) When ye come into the land, ye shall find fair houses, and that of other mens building: ye shall find all manner of household stuff and necessaries ready made: ye shall find vineyards and Olive gardens throughly planted: ye shall want nothing: ye shall find wells ready digged: for that land had not water at will. We know what pain and distress the holy fathers were driven unto, only to have water for themselves and their ca•tell,1 namely how they were driven from place to place, yea and that not for any precious things, but when they digged some poor pit, their neighbours came and drave them from it. Not without cause therefore is here express mention made of pits or wells, to show that the people should find all commodities there, without the putting too of one finger to take any pains for them.