A17698:1829
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.
Now in the end he saith, that they shall have their fill, and be well maintained, when they shall have kept Gods commandments after that fashion. We have two points to mark in this text for a conclusion.§30 The first is, that our Lord telleth his people, that he will not barely give them whatsoever is needful for them: but also give them their fill of his benefits, so as they shall be throughly satisfied with them. That is for the one. The second is a coming back to that which hath bin touched already: namely, that although God speak but of temporal goods, such as concern but this transitory life; yet he leadeth them further thereby. First, therefore let §40us understand, that God not only giveth and bestoweth upon us, such things as he knoweth to be needful for us; but also in largeth and extendeth his riches yet further, by using a kind of overmeasure. And in very deed we see it to be so. For as in respect of natural necessity, what needed we more than bread and water? But God addeth wine to comfort and glad mans heart,1 as is said in the psalm. Again we see he vouchsafeth to pleasure us after all sorts, by §50sending us so many things as are in the world to delight us withal, which are all witnesses of his liberality towards us, in that he not only provideth us of all the things which we could not forbear; but also addeth as an overplus, a great number of good things that serve for our pleasure: Whereby we ought to be the more provoked to love him, and they ought to be as wings to us, wherewith to fly unto him. But contrariwise, if God give us store, we cannot §60forbear to pamper our selves like brute beasts, insomuch that we be wedded to this world. I speak not only of drunkards and Gluttons that cram themselves till they be without wit & reason: but also of all such as are in love with their delicates and delights, so as if they have abundance more than ordinary, they cannot hold themselves within any measure, but thereupon do fall asleep, and in stead of being provoked to resort unto God, do run away from him, or rather lye weltering and bathing of themselves in their pleasures, and forget themselves I wot not how.
Now in the end he sayth, that they shall haue their fill, and be well maintained, when they shall haue kept Gods commaundements after that fashion. Wee haue two points to marke in this text for a conclusion.