A17698:198
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.
But forasmuch as God is on your side, and §50you have his promise that he will not fail you, and you be not come hither but by his leading of you with his own hand: Be not afraid. Thus sendeth he them to Gods will, to the end they should not do any thing which is not lawful. Again, he will have them to lean altogether to Gods promises, and because they could not have in themselves the things that were requisite: he will have them to hope that God will assist them. Now, this was spoken to the Jews whom Moses §60governed at that time: but yet is it a doctrine whose use is everlasting in Gods Church, as is said afore. We have not the Canaanites for our enemies against whom to fight: but yet do we know that this present life of ours shall not be idle, but that God will have us kept occupied like men of war that are waged to battle. And who be our enemies? Satan with all the shifts that he hath, and all the unbelievers through whom we must pass. For here we be mingled with such as seek nothing else but the destruction of Gods children, we have infinite temptations, and to be short we need never to go out of our selves to find encounters enow: for all our lusts, and all that springeth of our flesh, is deadly enmity against GOD, as saith S. Paul to the Romans.1 Seeing then that God hath ordained that we should maintain battle all our life long, and we have a great sort of enemies, yea and those very mighty and strong, which never cease troubling of us: it behoveth us to get us hardiness: for if we shrink, anon we be overcome. Therefore it standeth us on hand to be armed with invincible constancy, or else if every of us follow his own swing, God will let us alone. So then, are we desirous that God should guide us, & hold us under his protection, & withstand our enemies to give us victory against them? Let us walk in obedience, and learn to lead our life according to his will. For whosoever roveth abroad at random, forsaketh Gods help. Again, let no man beguile himself upon trust of men, forasmuch as they are commonly disappointed of their enterprises. And it is good reason that God should laugh them to scorn, when they fling forth so at all adventure, and keep neither way nor path. But like as most men are so overlusty, that they can away with nothing worse, than to bear the yoke that God layeth upon us:
But forasmuch as God is on your side, and