A17698:1626
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.
For we must understand that GOD maketh us Judges of the people of old time, to the end that every of us should condemn our selves in our own cases. For why? If we be Judges of such as have done amiss: think we that GOD seeth not much clearelyer than we? Now he is so gracious as to put over his office unto us, to the end that every of us should have an eye to himself, and having pleaded guilty, be cast down and humbled before him. Therefore let us mark that the rehearsal of this story, ought to lead us to the condemning of our own wicked affections, and make us to consider what our lusts are, wherethrough we cease not to provoke the wrath of our God. And let us mark first of all, that look how many lusts ⟨p. 411⟩are in our flesh: so many armed folks have we, which advance themselves against God. And for the same cause doth Saint Paul say,1 that all the imaginations, conceits, and affections of our nature, serve to provoke us to fight against the righteousness of our God. And therefore whensoever we chance to lust after any thing, let not our flesh overmaster us. And why? For all our senses are so corrupted: that although (to our seeming) the end of our wishes be good:§10 yet notwithstanding, some excess will ever be mingled with them, and God shall have somewhat in them whereat to find fault. And how fair and beautiful soever our desires are to the outward show, there is always some vice in them: and what shall we then say of the sinful lusts, which we be driven to condemn even by our own natural judgement? When a man desireth to have wherewith to find his household, and travelleth to get it: truly that desire is good §20of it self. But yet the same is matched with impatience, or with unstayednesse, or with overgreat care, or with unbelief: and to be short God shall always find somewhat amiss in our desires, which of their own nature are not evil. Howbeit, if a man rush out into pilling, and polling, and scratching, to beguile and deceive his neighbour: is it not much worse than to have a desire that might seem good of it self? Though a man purpose to live never so quietly with his §30wife, yet shall it always be mingled with some worldly affections, so as our corruption will needs bewray it self still, even in the best things: and what will become of us then, if we give our selves the bridle to whoredom?