A17698:144
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 by the way, the first good lesson that we have to gather here, is that forasmuch as God hath already uttered his goodness towards us in making us to feel his blessing: we be the more worthy to be blamed, if we rest not wholly upon him, or put not our whole trust in him to walk on boldly & without doubting. For although God had never showed himself to our experience: yet ought we to give credit to his holy word. And it is good reason that we should do him the honour to believe whatsoever he saith or speaketh unto us: for as much as he is faithful, and his word is better tried than either gold or silver,1 as it is said in the Psalm. And ⟨p. 25⟩therefore if there were no more but Gods uttering of his word with his own mouth: it were enough to condemn the whole world for their disobeying thereof. But seeing that God hath confirmed his sayings by deeds, and hath showed us as it were to our eyesight, that his making of his promises unto us is not in vain, but he hath made us to feel the things with our hands; so as we know in effect what his power is, and that it never faileth those which are his: if §10after all this teaching we fall to checking still, and be so stiffenecked as we will not bow to submit our selves to the things that he speaketh, nor have any will to obey him: I pray you doth not the greater condemnation lye upon us? What is to be done then? Let every of us consider advisedly the good turns that God hath done him, & let him mark them and note them that he may bear them in mind. Very well, God hath succoured me at such a pinch, I have §20felt his help in such a case, I have been aided at his hand, and he hath made me to perceive his mighty power after such and such fashion. After this manner must we make rehearsal of Gods benefits, and of his helping of us all the time of our life. And after as he hath uttered himself unto us, so must we be the more confirmed to trust to his promises, and to rest wholly upon them. Herew•thall let us be stablished in invincible constancy, to go which way soever he §30leadeth us, without fear of any distress. Why so? For my God which hath never forsaken me to this day, will not give me over now. As I have felt [heretofore] that he giveth strength to those that are his: so am I sure that he will reach me his hand and succour me still.