A17698:1627
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 much is to be said of all other things. And therefore let us bear in mind, that although our desires appear not to be evil: yet are they ever matched with some vice & unrighteousness before God. But [besides this,] we have also our fleshly lusts §40which make us to shake off Gods yoke, so as we cast our selves at all adventure, some into blasphemy, some into gluttony, some into unruliness, some into wantonness, some into lechery, some into extortion, some into cruelty, some into robbery, and othersome into all manner of wickedness. Now then, deserve not our lusts that God should rise up to destroy us for them, when we be come to that point? Yes: for if the people of Israel had graves of lust: what shall §50become of us? And therefore let us learn that when we read these stories, God giveth us warning to enter into the examination of our faults, that upon the knowing of them, we should crave forgiveness of them, and fall to such repentance, as may wholly tame us and make us flee unto him, and not be given any more to our vices. But that is unpossible for us to do, until we have so overmastered our selves, as to mislike our own affections with full purpose to §60renounce them. Until a man be subdued after that fashion, it is unpossible for him to yield obedience unto God, how fair appearance of virtue soever he have. But what? So far off are we from minding these things, that by all likelihood we do nothing else but blindfold our eyes, that we might not see our sins to seek convenient remedy for them. See here how the Jews were condemned for requiring of water, and yet were they ready to die for thirst. Yea, but the cause why they were not to be excused, was for that they required it with murmuring. Whereas they should have said, Lord thou knowest what is expedient for us better than we our selves do, and therefore we refer our selves to thee, provide thou for us: in stead of using such humility, they fall to repining and storming. Now we must not do so: but we must patiently tarry Gods leisure, when he giveth us not things so soon as we ask them: for he can well skill to provide for all our needs. In deed if it pleased him, he could well content us and give us all our wishes:
As much is to be sayd of all other thinges. And therefore let vs beare in minde, that although our desires appeare not to bee euill: yet are they euer matched with some vice & vnrighteousnesse before God. But [besides this,] wee haue also our fleshly lusts