A17698:1205
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.
But besides this, we fall to spiting of him, we caste out our fury and rage against him, we strike at him with our tusks, we withstand him stubbornly to the uttermost of our power, and we could find in our hearts that his Justice were utterly abolished. For we tread it under foot, as much as in us lieth. We see then that we be worse than swine, and worse than the vilest brute beasts that are, yea we be even unkindly monsters.
But besides this, wee fall to spiting of him, we caste out our furye and rage against him, we strike at him with our tusks, wee withstand him stubbornly to the vttermoste of our power, and we could finde in our hartes that his Iustice were vtterly abolished. For wee treade it vnder foote, as much as in vs lyeth. We see then that we bee woorse than swine, and woorse than the vilest brute beastes that are, yea we be euen vnkindly monsters.
But behold, our God calleth us to him by this exhortation, wherein we see the patientnesse which he useth towards us. If a father had handled his child as gently as could be, far ⟨p. 282⟩above the common manner, and the child should thereupon grow proud and despise his father: would not the father bear him such displeasure, as to disdain to open his mouth to him, to tell him of any thing because of his despising of him after that fashion? Yes. Then is it most certain that we be much less to be borne with when it falleth out, that we resist GOD who is more worth than all the fathers in the world, without comparison. So then, should he §10not have just cause to let us alone as we be, when he seeth that we have no mind of him, and that even his benefits are an occasion unto us to despise him, so as we turn them the clean contrary way from the lawful use whereunto he had ordained them? Might he not justly leave us in that state as cursed creatures and unworthy that ever he should open his mouth to speak to us? Yes: and yet for all that he cometh to seek us. Behold (sayeth he) I