A17698:1532
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 thinks it not enough to have said in one word, Thou art a stiffenecked people: but he addeth therewithal, Remember and forget not that thou diddest anger the Lord thy God in the wilderness, and how many times ye have disobeyed him, from the day that he brought ye out of the land of Egypt, even unto this present time of his bringing of you unto this place. Now whereas he sayeth, Remember and forget not: it serveth to quicken them up the better, because men do still cover their misdeeds, and as soon as they find never so little a shadow, or piece of colour to overlay their offences withal: they do but wring their mouths awry, and by and by they think themselves very righteous. We see how it happened to our father Adam:1 it was no long time ere he went to seek fig leaves to cover himself withal. But as soon as he had offended, and GOD rebuked him, and that he felt his own rebellion and disobedience: what did he? Whereas he should have come unto GOD, and confessed his fault, that he might have obtained mercy and forgiveness: he runs among the leaves and bears himself in hand that he was well covered, and that GOD should see him no more, so he had some little shadow to hide himself withal. We put the same still in ure daily: we have no sooner committed any fault, but by and by we fall to shifting, and we beat our brains and wits to find out some lurking hole that GOD might not espy us. To be short, there is none of us but he makes a den of thieves of his own heart, until our Lord do touch him to the quick, to bring us to the simplicity of acknowledging our faults. Now if we be so much inclined to disguise ourselves [out of hand,] by seeking shifts and coverts to withstand Gods vengeance: what will we do in length of time? Will we not utterly forgo the remembrance of our sins altogether? Yes: and that is the cause why Moses said, Remember thy self and forget not. It had been enough for him to have said, Remember thy self. But forasmuch as men do what they can to rock themselves asleep, and seek means to sooth themselves: Moses doeth as it were twitch them by the ear here, saying: Go to sirs, it is not for you to fall a sleep in this matter:
And Moses thinkes it not enough to haue sayde in one worde, Thou art a stiffenecked people: but he addeth therewithall, Remember and forgette not that thou diddest anger the Lorde thy God in the wildernesse, and howe many times ye haue disobeyed him, from the day that hee brought yee out of the lande of Egypt, euen vnto this present time of his bringing of you vnto this place. Nowe whereas he sayeth, Remember and forgette not: it serueth to quicken them vppe the better, because men doe still couer their missedeedes, and as soone as they finde neuer so little a shadowe, or peece of colour to ouerlay their offences withall: they doe but wring their mouthes awrye, and by and by they thinke themselues verie righteous. Wee see howe it happened to our father Adam: