A17698:1211
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.
Again as touching the goods of this world: let us understand that our Lord cannot devise to do so little for us, or to give us so slender a portion of them, but we shall be exceedingly much beholden to him though he do no more: but if we perceive that he dealeth gently with us, and that he beareth with us: that ought to quicken us up and to provoke us so much the more to come unto him. And therewithal let us beware that our unthankfulness lead us not to §50forget him, seeing it is not for nought that he warneth his people here by the mouth of Moses, to beware that they forgot him not when they came to the enjoying of the benefits which he would bestow upon them. For we have examples thereof even among our selves. I pray you hath not GOD wrought after a wonderful fashion here in planting of his Gospel, and moreover uttered his blessings in such sort, as they that perceive them not, must spite of their §60teeth know that he hath showed his mighty arm? nevertheless I shall not need as now to blame mens unthankfulness, it is too apparent and openly known. For have not many been ashamed, yea and are not many ashamed still, to bethink themselves of the miserable state out of which God hath delivered them? We hear how Moses sayeth here, Forget not thy GOD which brought thee out of the land of bondage or bondmen. As if he should say, when GOD shall have granted you the grace, to dwell quietly in the land which he will give you in possession: call to mind the state wherein ye have been, that ye may acknowledge the good which GOD hath done you in delivering you from it. Here then are two things done you to understand: The one is, that the present benefits must provoke ye to honour him that hath showed himself so liberal towards you: [and the other is,] that the remembering of your former miseries, must always humble you and hold you in awe, so as ye mount not up in pride to like well of your selves and to be puffed up, nor the prosperity that is given ye make ye to forget what bondage ye have been in.
Againe as touching the goods of this worlde: let vs vnderstand that our Lord cannot deuise to do so little for vs, or to giue vs so slender a portion of them, but we shall bee exceedingly much beholden to him though he doe no more: but if we perceiue that he dealeth gently with vs, and that hee beareth with vs: that ought to quicken vs vp and to prouoke vs so muche the more to come vnto him. And therewithall let vs beware that our vnthankfulnesse leade vs not to