A17698:1861
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.
let us have recourse §50to that which is said here, namely that God hath mens hearts in his hand. And therefore be the pride of men never so great, and their stoutness such as were able to make the air and the world to tremble: yet let us assure our selves that our Lord will turn it into fear and cowardliness, so as the parties that would needs be so feared of others, shall in the end have less courage than women and children. For why? it is God that giveth men courage and constancy: and it is he that §60bereaveth them of it again when he lifteth. Now then if we be fully persuaded and resolved that our Lord bridleth mens hearts: we will not doubt but that he will always give us victory against our enemies; and it is the point which the scripture standeth expressly upon. And to the intent we may know that men have not one spark of prowess or manhood in them, further forth than god giveth it them,1 Solomon saith expressly, that the hearts of kings are in the hand of God. It should seem that though all the rest of mankind be in subjection and bridled; yet kings be exempted from the common array: for no man dares once open his lips against them: & when they have once spoken the word, by and by it must be put in execution. It should seem therefore that they have a prerogative above all the world beside. Yea, but like as God maketh the rivers to run here and there, and turneth their streams which way he lifteth: so also doth he hold the hearts of kings in his hand saith Solomon. And what shall then become of the little Goslings when they perk up, & have no power nor strength at all? Shall we be dismayed at their threatenings? The thing then wherein we must trust, is our yielding of the honour to God which he requireth at our hands, to wit, that it belongeth to him to give men courage when they be fearful, & to daunt the courages of such as areas lusty as if they had the thunder & lightening at their commandment: for God will so cut their combs, as they shall not know where to become, but be utterly dismayed, so that in steed of the stoutness which they had showed before; there shall be nothing in them but weakness and fearfulness. After that manner must the faithful assure themselves. For otherwise what will become of us? In what taking are we? As I said afore, we be hemmed in on all sides by Satan & his underlings.2