A17698:1738
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.
themselves so ill; as it was very requisite for them to be done to understand, that it was but a fondness for them to boast themselves to be Gods people.
themselues so ill; as it was verie requisite for thē to be done to vnderstand, that it was but a fondnesse for them to boast themselues to be Gods people.
Now to the intent we may learn to put this doctrine in practise as it ought to be; Let us understand, that such as will needs harden them selves in naughtiness, shall be destroyed by God who will make them to feel the force of his power according to this saying of his, If ye fall to stubbornness §10with me,1 I will deal stubbornly with you again. And it is all one with this saying of the xviij. Psalm,2 With the froward I will be froward, and I will deal roughly with such as harden them selves against me. Then let us learn that Gods intent is to lay a yoke upon our necks by his word, of purpose to bring us in subjection to his righteousness: And all is for our benefit. Insomuch that although it be so unpossible for us to fulfil the Law, that we can not so much as §20put forth one of our little fingers to the furtherance of it, no nor once think a good thought: yet is that yoke gentle & amiable of it self, and all the harm of it cometh of our selves. For if we will not bow down our necks, but strout them out as hard as if they were steel or brass; so as in stead of being as Oxen to labour, or as sheep to hear the voice of our shepherd, we become sturdy bulls and fall to striking with rage & §30fury to shake off the yoke, so as we not only follow not the word, but also shake off all subjection, and inharden ourselves against God▪ what excuse will there be for us, seeing we yield not ourselves unto him willingly to be taught at his hand? Yet for all that, we see how the world goeth. God therefore must be fain to overmaster us, & to tame us by main hand. And in very deed, look what afflictions soever light upon us, we ought to take them as strokes of Gods hand, to make us bow our necks under him, and to