A17698:1506
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.
Although he show himself a father, & avow us to be as his children, so as he will hold us & nourish us in his lap, of purpose that we should behave our selves mildly towards him, & yield him his due honour and love: yet if we abuse his gracious favour, so as we yield him no reverence nor subjection: then in steed of feeling his fatherly loving kindness, we shall find him a consuming fire to devour us. Thus ye see how we must first of all take hold of that which Moses sayeth here, to the intent we may live in awe, fear, and humility, and always hold our selves under the yoke and obedience of him that hath adopted us, and be true children towards him as he is a father towards us.
Although hee shewe himselfe a father, & auowe vs to be as his children, so as he will hold vs & nourish vs in his lappe, of purpose that we should behaue our selues mildly towardes him, & yeld him his due honor and loue: yet if we abuse his gracious fauour, so as we yeeld him no reuerence nor subiection: then in steed of feeling his fatherly louing kindnesse, wee shall finde him a consuming fire to deuour vs. Thus yee see howe wee must first of all take holde of that which Moses sayeth here, to the intent wee may liue in awe, feare, and humilitie, and alwayes holde our selues vnder the yoke and obedience of him that hath adopted vs, and be true children towardes him as he is a father towardes vs.
Howbeit let us mark herewithall, that he is a consuming fire to devour our enemies. When we see our enemies threaten us, and that they become proud and stately against us, so as it may seem that they should destroy us with their only looks: let us take hold of Gods power to comfort us in all our afflictions, and let us consider that it is enough for us that God is a consuming fire. Thus ye see how we must apply this doctrine to double use: first, that it may be as a bridle to hold us in awe and subjection under our God: and secondly that it may be as a bulwark to outstand all temptations. When we be stricken in fear, because we hear that our enemies do practise all that ever they can against us: and that it is in their hand to overthrow us and destroy us: yet let us come still back to this point and say, Well then, and what shall our God do? Think we that he itteth idle in heaven? In deed it may well be that for a time he will suffer us to be vexed, and to have our necks under the sword, and to be as silly sheep led to the slaughter: but yet for all that, our life is precious in his sight, because he hath chosen us to be his heritage. And although he suffer us to be troubled for a time: yet in the end he will make us to perceive that he was always at hand with us, so as we shall have continual cause to glorify him, specially when we shall see that he shall have overthrown all those which now have their whole swing against us, in comparison of whom we be nothing at all. Thus much concerning the saying wherein God is called a consuming fire.