A17698:1802
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 whatsoever he is that hath not a meek heart like a lamb, is unworthy to be counted of Gods Church,1 because our Lord Jesus Christ will not be our shepherd, but upon the condition. That then is the thing which we have to bear away in the first place. But let us also look well upon the maliciousness of the Jewish people, & take good heed that we become not like them. Soothly it is a terrible case that God should show forth his power so upon rebels, that the very earth should open and swallow them up with their wives and children. There were to the number of 250 that had murmured against Moses and Aaron, which were all rooted out in the open sight of men, so as men saw that God wrought from heaven: & yet notwithstanding complaints were still cast forth against Moses and Aaron, men charged them with all the blame, all the fault was laid in their necks. Seeing it was so, must it not needs be that y• people was exceedingly hardhearted? Yes: but let us now look into our selves. For we also are guilty of the like maliciousness nowadays in that ⟨p. 462⟩behalf. For there are a number to be seen which foster poison in their hearts, & are wilfully wedded to wicked matters, and yet know neither why nor wherefore. If a man ask them what it booteth them: they cannot tell, saving that the devil hath so carried them away, that they be easily won to maintain evil matters, and to murmur and grudge: and therewithal they fall to running upon those that cannot do withal, for none other cause but that they endeavour to maintain §10the things that concern God. How have we had an eye to the things which God hath done beyond mans expectation? He wrought of all the while▪ when no man thought it. There were neither Judges, nor people, nor ministers of the word, that ever thought upon the things that are come to pass. Well: is the thing done & past? and do we not perceive that God pitied us in the end, and that thereby he meant to school us, and that we should be mindful of that deed for ever? Why consider we §20not that he laid his hand upon us to humble us, to the intent we should henceforth live in all subjection under him, & according to his order? Are they not too too unexcusable, which cannot make their profit thereof? Yes surely. For it is as a wilful shutting of their eyes against Gods works. But no marvel if things be so out of order nowadays.