A17698:157
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.
Whereas he saith That God made the people §50to pass through a horrible and dreadful wilderness: the same belongeth unto us also, if we consider in what state God found us, and whence he hath drawn us. For are we not all damned and forlorn by nature? Hath not the devil a tyrannous dominion over us, from whence no man can deliver himself by his own power? Even so, if we consider where GOD seeketh us when he calleth us to him: [we shall find, that] the wilderness wherethrough the Jews §60passed is not so dreadful and terrible, as is the damnation wherein we were. For we be in bondage of sin, we be under the thraldom of death, satan reigneth over us, and is king and prince of the whole world. Seeing then that GOD riddeth us out of so miserable slavery, and setteth us at liberty by his holy spirit: is it not all one as if he should make us way through the gulfs of hell? Yes: for we be there in very deed, and we cannot come at Jesus Christ, except we be brought out of the dungeons of death. Now then, if there were no more but this, that God hath rid us from the curse which was brought upon us by Adam, and wherein we are all of us fast shut and locked up until he have pity upon us: the experience of that one point ought to make us perceive his goodness. And if there were no more but that: it ought to give us courage to follow him, and to give our selves wholly unto him. For if we be slothful, there is no excuse for us, because his goodness is sufficiently warranted unto us, and it is long of none but our selves that we be not fully resolved and persuaded that he will go through with the thing that he hath begun. And that it is so, if every of us bethought himself well, we should find that God by infinite ways made us to overcome the things that seemed unpossible. But what? To set forth our own valiant deeds, we can well enough allege this and that, and our memory is but too good. And though it be but a thing of nothing that we have done, yet we can skill to magnify it and to make great reports of it. Lo how men can be quick enough to remember all that ever they have done in their life, that may set forth their own glory: but in the mean while we do wickedly forget the benefits of GOD.
Whereas hee saith That God made the people §50to passe through a horrible and dreadfull wildernesse: the same belongeth vnto vs also, if wee consider in what state God founde vs, and whence hee hath drawen vs. For are wee not all damned and forlorne by nature? Hath not the diuell a tyrannous dominion ouer vs, from whence no man can deliuer himselfe by his owne power? Euen so, if wee consider where GOD seeketh vs when hee calleth vs to him: [wee shall finde, that] the wildernesse wherethrough the Iewes