A17698:1435
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.
Now he speaketh expressly of the afflictions which the people had endured in the wilderness: as if he should say that these afflictions here are profitable for men, so they can use them well, and refer them to their right end. It is not without cause that Moses uttereth this thing here: inasmuch as it seemeth at the first, that we cannot think upon our adversities without grief and grudging, so as they should provoke us to repine against God, and consequently to shrink away from him. For we know there is nothing more against our nature, than to be poor, sick, diseased, or afflicted with any misery: they be things which we hate. And therefore when God smiteth us, it seemeth to be the next way to withdraw us from him. But Moses telleth us, that if we were so wise and well disposed as wisely to apply to our use the afflictions that God sendeth us: thy should rather ⟨p. 349⟩teach us to return home to him. The Lord thy God (saith he) hath scourged thee. And to what end? To know what was in thy heart, and whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. Here Moses showeth,1 first that Gods afflicting of us is as an examination to try what we be, and how we be minded. In deed, prosperity also is a good trial to bewray what is in mens hearts. For if a man be any thing at ease, he overshoots himself, and pleasures corrupt us yea and utterly §10dull us. If a man be rich, whereas he was taken to have bin lowly and meek, he will bewray his pride and cruelty. If a man be in authority, he becometh intolerable. And so ye see that GOD may try what is in us and take experience of it, even by making us to prosper. But yet is poverty set down here of set purpose, because it is the mean whereby God trieth whether we be subject to him or no. And why? For patience (as men say) is a singular §20virtue: but how may it be known that we be patient, but by adversity? Therefore when God sendeth us adversities that are hard and troublesome to us: then doth he as it were lay open our hearts. For if we abide quietly under his hand, and suffer him to deal with us according to his good will, so as we praise his name though he handle us roughly: it is a token that we love him in deed, and that hypocrisy taketh no place at all in us.