A17698:1870
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 should seem therefore that God kept not touch with them. But here is an excellent goodly text, to open unto us the thing which I have expounded afore, and which will come to be spoken of again. It is said that God will give his people the victory, conditionally that they keep all the commandments which are enjoined them. God tieth it with a condition. Do whatsoever I command you (saith he,) & then shall you find my power to be such, as your enemies (do what they can) shall not be able to prevail any whit against you. Now let us see if the Jews were able to perform all Gods commandments. Nay, they were utterly disobedient unto them. And we also cease not to take the clean contrary way to that which god teacheth us & commandeth us until he have reformed us by his holy spirit.1 Ye see then that the Jews were disobedient unto god, & therefore were disappointed of his promise. Yea, but yet for all that he ceased not to make place for his own mercy ⟨p. 480⟩still by means of their lewdness. For although their enemies pricked them like thorns; yet they held still the possession of the dwelling place that God had appointed them. Trueth it is that it is said expressly, forasmuch as ye have behaved your selves lewdly,2 and provoked your God, by refusing to go forward when he was ready to guide you: therefore shall you not overcome your enemies, but they shall remain still, and be as thorns in your sides, & as wasps to sting you,§10 yea and they shall even pick out your eyes, because ye have not taken courage as ye ought to have done, nor submitted your selves to God, to go forward at his commandment. Lo what threatenings are made unto them: & they perceive them well enough: and afterward they become subject unto them, insomuch that they were fain to bear charges & tributes even till they groaned again. But our Lord having chastised them so many ways, did afterward •hew unto them, that he §20failed not to pity them still; for he raised them up such men from time to time, as saved them from their enemies. And so howsoever the world went with them, they still enjoyed Gods gracious gifts, at leastwise in part: not that they were worthy of them,