A17698:184
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.
Wherefore let us mark, that this text ought to serve us as a looking glass, wherein to behold the frowardness that reigneth throughout the world. And when we have done amiss, let us learn to abstain from wilfulness. For else in the end we shall fall into the bottomless pit of blaspheming God, & if we continue in that stub bornes & unwillingness to acknowledge our own §20vices, in the end we shall fall to resisting God furiously, as it befell to these wretches of whom Moses speaketh here. For when men will needs maintain themselves after that sort in their wicked quarrels against God, they fall not only into disobedience, but also into sturdiness, yea even into most shameful & beastly sturdiness, as we see here. It was too gross a fault already, when the people had said, how shall we go, or what can we do, seeing the towns are so strong §30and the people so giantlike? It was too much already to resist God after that fashion. But behold, here is yet a more excessive unthankfulness. For in stead […] bethinking themselves of Gods grace, in deli•••ing them from the thraldom of Egypt: they fall to railing at him. What (say they?) Would God have fetched us out of the land of Egypt, if he had not hated us? Now alas what hatred was it! When God pitied his poor creatures, they were even at the last cast:§40 they were entreated like wretched slaves, yea even to the drawing of the blood out of their veins: they were so cruelly handled, as was horrible to see: & in the end the tyranny was grown so far, that all their male children were murdered, of purpose to make clean riddance of them, and to wipe out the very remembrance of them. Even at this pinch, did God have compassion upon the people. Could any greater goodness have bin showed? And when as he saith §50by his prophet,1 My people, what harm did I thee in bringing thee out of the land of Egypt? doeth it not appear thereby that they were too too malicious and froward? I planted a vine [saith God] and looked for good fruit: & now thou wilt choke thy master with thy sourness.
Wherefore let vs marke, that this text ought to serue vs as a looking glasse, wherein to behold the frowardnesse that reigneth throughout the world. And when we haue done amisse, let vs learne to absteine from wilfulnesse. For else in the ende we shall fall into the bottomlesse pit of blaspheming God, & if we continue in that stub bornes & vnwillingnes to acknowledge our own