A17698:1592
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.
Now we see yet better the thing which I touched afore: that is to wit, that God was so far off from cutting off of Moses, or from shutting him out that he should not pray: that he did rather sharpen him thereunto. As if he should say: But for thee this people should be destroyed. For if I should handle them according to their deserts: I should confound them. And forasmuch as they be so wilful that they be past amendment. It is time now or never to execute my sentence. It is too much: I will make no moe words: But I will grant thus much at thy request, that if thou make intercession to me, I will be restrained by it. Now then we see these two questions well resolved and the profit that redoundeth of this text. Namely first that the force of our prayers is showed us here, when we pray unto God faithfully.
Nowe wee see yet better the thing which I touched afore: that is to wit, that God was so farre off from cutting off of Moses, or from shutting him out that he shoulde not pray: that hee did rather sharpen him thereunto. As if hee shoulde say: But for thee this people shoulde be destroyed. For if I shoulde handle them according to their desertes: I shoulde confounde them. And forasmuch as they be so wilfull that they be past amendement. It is time nowe or neuer to execute my sentence. It is too much: I will make no moe wordes: But I will graunt thus much at thy request, that if thou make intercession to me, I will be restrayned by it. Now then wee see these two questions well resolued• and the profite that redoundeth of this texte. Namely firste that the force of our prayers is shewed vs here, when we pray vnto God faithfullie.
And secondly we see that dangers ought to provoke us the more. The more that Gods wrath is uttered unto us, the more ought we to be moved to pray unto God: because it is as if he drave us thereto by force. And we must not ⟨p. 399⟩pray only for our selves, nor have a care of our salvation only, nor only fear the dangers that hang over our heads: but we must also take care or our neighbours, and when we hear Gods threatenings, they must waken us, and make us to come before him, saying, Alas Lord, here is a sort of wretched creatures which must needs perish, if thou be so disposed. Therefore let us be provoked to fear, the more for Gods showing of his wrath unto us, and for the