A17698:1498
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.
And afterward he cometh to the second part, and telleth them that when God shall have given them the upper hand of their enemies, they must not boast themselves of it, as though it proceeded of their own worthiness, desert, ability, power, or skill. And why? For God (saith he) will drive out those nations because of their wickedness. And to confirm this withal, I have told you already heretofore, that determinate sentence was concluded & given against those §30nations,1 four hundred years afore, and that God had tarried patiently for them, to see if there were any amendment and conversion. But when they continued hardhearted still, and that the mischief increased more and more: was it not reason that God should execute his judgement? Yes verily. So then the Jews are warned that they should not be puffed up with any vain self-weening, as though they had been worthy to be placed in the land of Canaan:§40 but rather consider that God executed his vengeance upon those nations for their evil life, & therefore that they which should succeed them, ought to humble themselves the more. And moreover, that if they compared themselves with their enemies, there was no cause why they should think themselves to have the better case, or that they ought to be preferred before them: I say, there was no cause why they should have any such conceit. For Moses §50telleth them, that the covenant which God had made with their fathers, was concluded long afore any of them were borne: whereupon it followeth, that God had no respect to their deserts. I have told you moreover that the same covenant was freebestowed: for it was not grounded upon any service of men, but Gods intent therein was to set forth his own goodness and mercy. Ye see then that the Israelites are bereft of all power and glory, and that §60all worldly loftiness is here beaten down, so as only God must be known to be good and righteous, and men are bound to him in all cases, insomuch that they must keep their mouths shut, and not boast of their own power or virtue, as though they were folk of good ability. That in effect is the thing that is treated of in the text which I have rehearsed.
And afterwarde he commeth to the seconde part, and telleth them that when God shall haue giuen them the vpper hande of their enimies, they must not boast themselues of it, as though it proceeded of their owne worthinesse, desert, abilitie, power, or skill. And why? For God (saith he) will driue out those nations because of their wickednesse. And to confirme this withall, I haue tolde you alreadie heretofore, that determinate sentence was concluded & giuen against those