A17698:1510
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.
but rather consider on the contrary part,1 that we §50be full of vanity, leasing, and unfaithfulness, that we be unruly and rebellious against God, that we be fraught full of wicked lusts, that there is a sea of all naughtiness in us, and that the fairest show of virtue which we have, is but filth and dung before God. Lo how the Scripture speaketh of us: lo how it blazeth our arms. Now therefore, when men have well considered themselves: they must make this comparison. Alas, I see Gods wrath lye upon such a man or such a woman, yea and upon §60such great and excellent nations. We see a great number nowadays which are far off from the light of life, whereas in the mean while the Gospel is preached unto us, and the way into Gods kingdom is set open unto us. And yet for all this, are we better worthy of it than they? Wherein? Let us look a little upon our own deservings, and let us allege all that is possible to be devised. Why then doeth God prefer us before them? Because it pleaseth him so to do. So then, look how many wretched castaways we see straying away from God, and look how many silly souls we see punished at Gods hand: let them all be as looking-glasses for us to behold our selves in, and to make us conclude, that if God listed to show himself a judge in handling us after our deserts, we should be no more spared than they be, and that our standing is through his free goodness, inasmuch as he beareth with us, and vouchsafeth to show himself favourable. Lo what light we ought to take at Gods mercy towards us, when we see his vengeance upon the unbelievers and rebels, accordingly also as Saint Paul telleth us in the Epistle to the Romans,2 that we should be utterly damned with the wicked, if God spared us not of his own free goodness. And that is said unto us to the intent we should not take any fond conceit in our selves, that might puff us up and make us drunken. For if we give not God the glory, acknowledging his goodness to be the thing we rest upon: surely he must needs make us feel to our cost, that we be not worthy to find such mercy and favour at his hand. Thus ye see why Moses told the Jews, that the Canaanites & their neighbours should be destroyed at Gods hand for their sins sake.