A17698:1879
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.
THE protestation that Moses maketh here, serveth to show that men themselves are the cause of all their miseries, & that it is not for them to seek the blame thereof any where else. And on the other side, that when God declareth his will unto us, the way of welfare is showed us, & it is long of our selves that our life is not happy in all respects §30throughout. So then, the meaning of Moses is, that God doth men a singular good turn, when he vouchsafeth to teach them by his word. For when they have the record of his will, it is as good as a showing of them how to attain to salvation, & how to prosper in this transitory life. Contrariwise also they be warned that if they fare not the better by the doctrine that is delivered unto them, unhappy are they, & they have not cause to con plain of God afterward as though it were long §40of him; for they had choice. Therefore when we have been instructed in Gods word, & known the true & pure religion: if we hold not on through out, all the blame is to be laid upon our selves. For God had showed us the good way; & we held it not, ne kept our selves in it. Needs therefore must we be barred from all excuse, and God must hold us as convicted for that we had lever to perish wilfully, & to go to destruction, than submit our selves to him who was willing to have led us §50to life & salvation. For this cause Moses sayeth, Behold, this day do I set before you a blessing & a curse. As if he should say; Bethink your selves: Seeing that God hath commanded me to publish his law, it is not for you to fall asleep: For on the one side he showeth you how you may prosper all your life long: namely by obeying him. On the contrary part think not to scape scot-free when ye shall have disobeyed your God; such unthankfulness shall not abide unpunished. For God must §60needs be revenged of such as have refused his doctrine & made no reckoning of it.
THE protestation that Moses maketh here, serueth to shewe yt men themselues are the cause of all their miseries, & that it is not for them to seeke the blame therof any where else. And on ye other side, that when God declareth his will vnto vs, the way of welfare is shewed vs, & it is long of our selues yt our life is not happie in al respects §30throughout. So then, the meaning of Moses is, yt God doth men a singular good turne, when hee vouchsafeth to teach them by his word. For whē they haue the record of his wil, it is as good as a shewing of them howe to attaine to saluation, & how to prosper in this transitorie life. Contrarywise also they be warned yt if they fare not ye better by the doctrine that is deliuered vnto them, vnhappie are they, & they haue not cause to cō plaine of God afterward as though it were long