A17698:1452
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.
Verily even by the order of nature, we may know him generally, as by the seasons of the year, by the growing of fruits upon the earth, and by the shining of the Sun, the Moon, and the stars. Even by these things may we see that our Lord hath applied himself wholly unto us, and to §20the feebleness of our understanding, and that he hath (as it were) transfigured himself, by taking upon him the person of a man, to the end that we might know him. Again, when he scourgeth us, do we not see that he handleth us as a father handleth his own children? If he see a man wax overlusty and malapert: after he hath borne a while with him, he taketh the rod in his hand. For on the one side he warneth us by his word. And afterward if he smite us with §30his hand, doth he not use the greater kindness towards us, to the intent we should receive his corrections to our benefit? Again, when he sendeth us of his benefits, it is all one as if a father being desirous to win his child by gentleness, should say unto him, My Son, what wilt thou do? Who shall maintain thee when thou art gone away from me? Here thou hast always whereon to live: thou seest how I take pains for thee: get thee to a stranger, and §40see if he will deal better with thee. Now then like as a father will speak after that manner to his child: so doeth our Lord show him self unto us, and he matcheth his word with his deeds: that is to say, whereas he sendeth us prosperity and quietness, he telleth us also that it is to allure us to him, that his gentleness might win us to him, and make us to return familiarly unto him, and to depart from our sins. Sith it is so: let us learn that there will be no §50excuse for us, if we take not instruction by all the order which God keepeth to teach us withal in this world. For why? He behaveth himself like a mortal man towards us, and worketh not after the manner of his own incomprehensible majesty, because it would confound us. We be too weak to mount so high: and therefore he stoopeth unto us. Seeing then that he dealeth so friendly on his behalf: Let not us be so slothful, as not to enter into our own harts,§60 and to consider things accordingly, and to enforce our selves to bear Gods benefits well in mind, so as we take instruction by them as we ought to do. Thus ye see what we have to mark upon that place.