A17698:1272
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.
IT should seem at the first sight, that the commandment §10which is given here to the Jews was very strange. For they be charged to dispatch all their enemies, and to put them to death everyone, yea even the young children and all, without sparing §20any of them: and it is God that speaketh it. But we know that when he intendeth to exhort us to mildness and mercy, he allegeth his own example. Ye shall resemble your heavenly father (saith our Lord Jesus Christ,1) who causeth his day sun to rise both upon good and bad: and therefore do good to such as are not worthy of it. Seeing that GOD hath not a better reason to persuade us to show mercy, than by showing us what he himself doth: it seemeth §30not in any wise convenient, that he should provoke us unto cruelty. For when he saith, ye shall kill all, ye shall leave nothing, even the young babes shall pass under the edge of the sword: what is to be said to it, but that GOD had no pity nor kindheartedness in that behalf? But although it seem so to us: yet let us learn to glorify him, knowing that the greatest rigour which is in him, is rightful & faultless, yea even although the reason thereof be not manifest §40unto us. And hereby let us learn to beware, that we be not so bold as to judge of God or of his doings after our own wit & imagination. For as soon as a thing seemeth good unto us, we take it to be so in deed: and on the contrary part, if we fall to judging of Gods ordinances at adventure, & deem them to be evil because we perceive not the reason of them: where is our obedience? Wherefore let us learn to humble our selves in such wise, that if the things which God saith §50do not fitly agree with our understanding: yet nevertheless we receive them with all submission and reverence, acknowledging that as there is nothing but all wisdom and righteousness in him, so it becometh us to yield to his good pleasure, and to confess that whatsoever he ordaineth is the sovereign righteousness.
IT shoulde seeme at ye •irst sight, that ye commādement §10