A17698:1624
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.
As concerning the Temptation or Strife: let §30us understand that if necessity pinch us, so as we be driven to any strait and know not where to become: we must resort to our God with all lowliness, beseeching him to provide a remedy for our need: but yet in the mean while we must be contented with his good will. If it please him to have us to languish: let us hold down our necks, and let us not have the stiffneckedness which Moses condemned heretofore in the people of old time. Also let us understand that §40it is Gods own working, when he vouchsafeth to uphold us in such sort as we do not utterly quail. For although we do hardly drag our limbs after us, & we seem even to be at the last cast: yet do we still feel some taste of the goodness of our God. Howsoever the world go with us, let us learn that we must not tempt him, that is to say, we must not give our selves the bridle to ask this or that, but refer our selves wholly to his good will, and be so governed by §50him, as we may always yield him his due obedience, and not range after our own lusts like wild beasts, as though we would push at him with our horns, but that if we wish the thing which seemeth expedient for us, we do it always with this condition that God shall have the mastery of us, and overrule all our passions and desires. If our mind move us to wish or to say, I would fain have this or that: Let us look that God have the overruling of us, and that we §60submit our selves so unto him, as all our thoughts affections and likings be framed unto his will, though it seem never so hard unto us. Thus ye see what we have to note concerning the temptation that Moses speaketh of here, and concerning the strife at such time as the people were in a chase and murmured against GOD.
As concerning the Temptation or Strife: let §30vs vnderstand that if necessitie pinch vs, so as we be driuen to any streite and know not where to become: we must resorte to our God with all lowlinesse, beseeching him to prouide a remedie for our neede: but yet in the meane while wee must be contented with his good will. If it please him to haue vs to languishe: let vs hold downe our neckes, and let vs not haue the stifneckednesse which Moses cōdemned heretofore in the people of old time. Also let vs vnderstand that