A17698:1504
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 Moses plainly sayeth here, that God will be their leader, yea, and even as a consuming fire to destroy all things that shall be against them. This is not added without cause. For when we be disposed to further our own fearfulness, we exalt the power of our enemies above measure, and of little dwarfs we make Giants. And what will we do then, when our enemies be tall and strong in deed? We will be much more astonished at them. But yet doeth Moses tell us here, that we must not feed such doubts and distrusts. And for the same cause he useth this similitude, that Gods fighting for us shall not be after the common fashion: but that he will be as a fire to devour all. Albeit then that we have neither sword, spear, gun, nor other artillery: yet let it suffice us to know, that God hath means enough to help us withal, which we know not of. And because this cannot be so well expressed as were requisite: he sayeth that if we see a fire, we know it is able to burn up a forest, a city, or a whole country: and therefore we ought not to doubt, but that God is strong enough for our enemies, seeing he is a consuming fire. So likewise, when David intendeth to comfort himself in the middest of his greatest troubles, so as he seemeth to be hemmed in on all sides, and ready to be swallowed up into the gulfs of hell, we hear how he oftentimes sayeth that God is a consuming fire,1 & assureth himself ⟨p. 375⟩that all they which set themselves after that fashion against him, shall be consumed thereof, and they that conspire his death shall be devoured of that fire which consumeth all things. After this manner must we put this saying of Moses in practise. And from hence hath David drawn his said doctrine, as from the fountain that served all the other Prophets to gather right comfort of, wherewith to resist and overcome all the troubles that could befall them: and the §10same also is the cause why Moses declareth that God is a consuming fire to dispatch all the enemies of his people. Also David fleeth thereunto for refuge, whensoever he seeth great armies embattled against him, so as he is as a man past hope [of victory,] and is as good as banished out of his own country, yea and moreover there are so many that practise his destruction, that he is vexed out of all measure.