A17698:2007
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.
By putting all the blots and blemishes of them out of his remembrance, so as he imputeth them not any more. And that is the way for us to prosper all kind of ways, through his only free goodness. But yet by the way let us call to mind the matter that we have touched afore: namely that we be very wretched, seeing our Lord allureth us to him so gently and with so great courtesy, saying, Go to my children, I desire §30nothing else but to maintain you in prosperity, do you no more but follow me: and yet notwithstanding, after this choice of prosperity offered unto us, we forsake our GOD, and run gadding after the vanities of this world, Satan carieth us away with his trumperies, and we shut our eyes wittingly, and wilfully, as though all our seeking were to be deceived that we might perish: and yet for all this, we cease not to complain when we see the §40miseries and adversities of this world light upon us. And in what a time are we? We see nowadays how there is war on the one side, and dearth on the other; all things are so far out of order as it is pity to behold, and every man mourneth, but no man hath an eye to the cause of the mischief. For if we thought upon it▪ we could not but perceive Gods hand to be upon us, yea and that in such wise, as it would make us to be think us after this manner: Alas,§50 we have forsaken the fountain of all welfare, and therefore it is good reason that we should now feel thirst. For God is ready on his part to give us our fill, he is not niggardly, his power is not diminished, he hath the fullness of all good things in him: and therefore if we be destitute, of whom is it long? When a man runs gadding here and there, and forsaketh a fountain, and goeth on wandering into desert places where he is in danger to die for thirst, so §60as he beareth out his tongue half a foot long, and findeth not a drop of water to refresh himself withal: is he not worthy to die for thirst, seeing he hath so forsaken the fountain? So then let us mark that God withdrawn his blessings from us, because we have forsaken him, and it is a just reward whereof we be well worthy. And yet by the way we be warned therewithal, to return to our God: for his will is not that we should pine in such sort, as he should not be ready to receive us again.