A17698:1865
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.
It is said that even when God setteth his mark upon kings & princes,1 the brute beasts which have no reason do stand in awe of them. And why is that? Because God worketh by a secrete means unknown to us. If our lord had not such power to inspire men withal; surely principalities & seigniories could not continue one minute of an hour. Now then seeing that God imprinteth such a mark, that he maketh not only men but also beasts to stand in awe, & to be subject to those to whom he hath committed the sword of justice: let us note that if we be his children, we shall also bear his image; insomuch that if we be under his tuition, we shall be defended in despite of our enemies: yea & we shall be feared, so as we shall perceive by the effect, that it is long of none but our selves that we be not succoured by him, and that although our unthankfulness do beat back his hand, yet doth he overcome us with his infinite goodness. For we see that although the wicked have the Law in their own hand; yet notwithstanding they be so abashed & dismayed, that they be quite and clean without heart. We must needs see it, or else we be duller than blocks. For our Lord hath wrought with such power, that though we were blind, yet we might grope it with our hands, namely that God hath daunted those that thought to have cut the ⟨p. 479⟩throats of his children, even when no man durst lift up his little finger against them, insomuch that when they thought themselves to have won the goal, then were they seen to be so stricken down & discouraged, & cast into such fear & perplexity, and so at their wits end, as they wist not what to do nor where to become. Indeed they had the Law in their own hand (as I said), they had practises and devices enow, and the world sees that they had neither uprightness nor faithfulness in them.§10 But yet howsoever they fared, they were discouraged, & were made to stand gaping & gassing one upon another, & could not tell what to do for fear Hereby we see that our Lord not only held their hands tied; but also bereft them of heart; so as he disappointed them of wit & reason, by reason whereof they were so dulled, that there was less skill in them than in little babes, yea or even in beasts. Ye see then how it is goodly proof of that which is promised here: