A17698:1206
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 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 §20know ye be inclined to forget me, when I have fed you well and fat, and the more abundance that you have, the more ye refuse to come to me, and therefore ye deserve to be shaken off, & that I should never remember you any more. Yet notwithstanding, my desire is not that you should perish, but that ye should return unto me. What naughtiness or lewdness so ever I espy in you, I am contented to take you still for my children, I will prevent the vices §30whereto you be given: therefore take heed that ye forget me not when you be at your ease. Seeing that our Lord beareth with us after that fashion, ought it not to break our hearts though they were harder than stone?
But behold, our God calleth vs to him by this exhortation, wherein wee see the patientnesse which hee vseth towardes vs. If a father had handeled his child as gently as could be, farre ⟨p. 282⟩aboue the common maner, and the child should thereupon growe proude and despise his father: woulde not the father beare him such displeasure, as to disdaine to open his mouth to him, to tell him of any thing bicause of his despising of him after that fashion? Yes. Then is it most certaine that wee bee much lesse to bee borne with when it falleth out, that wee resist GOD who is more worth than all the fathers in the world, without comparison. So then, should he