A17698:1196
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 therefore he addeth, take good heed that thou forget not the Lord thy God when thou art full. This is the chief matter which we have to weigh. For Moses doth us to understand, that men are a kin to resty horses: if they be overpampered, they fall to kicking, and will not be handled nor ordered any more: and this similitude is set down more expressly in the two and thirtieth chapter.1 But in this place he showeth plainly, that overmuch ease is the cause of wilful stubbornness: so that if God hath once pampered us, we forget him, and play the drunkards so as we cannot order our selves in such wise in the enjoying of the benefits which he bestoweth upon us, as to yield him thanks for them and to serve him the more effectually, but contrariwise we devour them up with such greediness and excess, as our nature becometh utterly brutish, and God hath no more authority over us, but we bear our selves in hand that we could well enough forbear him. Ye see then that men become brutish through pleasures and abundance of wealth. And that is the thing which Moses hath noted here, in saying: take good heed that thou forget not the Lord God when thou art full.
And therefore hee addeth, take good heede that thou forget not the Lord thy God when thou art full. This is the chiefe matter which we haue to wey. For Moses doth vs to vnderstand, that mē are a kin to restie horses: if they be ouerpampered, they fall to kicking, and will not be handled nor ordered any more: and this similitude is set downe more expressely in the two and thirtith chapter.1 But in this place hee sheweth playnely, that ouermuch ease is the cause of wilfull stubbornnesse: so that if God hath once pampered vs, wee forget him, and play the drunkardes so as we cannot order our selues in such wise in the inioying of the benefites which hee bestoweth vppon vs, as to yeelde him thāks for them and to serue him the more effectually, but contrariwise we deuoure them vp with such greedinesse and excesse, as our nature becommeth vtterly brutish, and God hath no more authoritie ouer vs, but wee beare our selues in hand that wee could well enough forbeare him. Yee see then that men become brutish through pleasures and abundance of wealth. And that is the thing which Moses hath noted here, in saying: take good heede that thou forget not the Lorde God when thou art full.