A17698:2056
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.
And now let us mark, that if God send such false miracles; it is not to entrap those that are his; but to punish such as have not believed the Gospel,1 as Saint Paul speaketh thereof in the second to the Thessalonians. And therefore doth Moses also add, Then is it Gods will to try thee whether thou lovest him with all thy heart & all thy soul or no. It is a saying that deserveth to be well marked. For first Moses doeth us to understand,§60 that such things happen not without the ordinance of God: and secondly he showeth the end or reason wherefore: namely that the faithful may have wherewith to be confirmed, knowing well that God will give them constancy to hold out, though the temptation be never so rough and violent. Those are the two things which we have to remember here. First, it is said, God trieth thee. Hereby he showeth, that Satan hath no power over us, nor can sow any wicked weeds, further forth than God giveth him leave. And that is a very needful thing for us to mark. For were we persuaded that the door were open for Satan, and that all errors might spring up at all adventure, and that God over ruled them not: alas what a thing were it? For we see how mad the devil is to overthrow all trueth: we see with what fury he goes to work when he is to fight against the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ: and we see what spite he beareth to our salvation. And therefore things would go too much to havoc if God wrought not to hinder Satan of his full scope, that he might not set up his lies among us. Wherefore let us understand, that whensoever there is any trouble, division, or diversity of opinion in the Church, the same happeneth not at all adventure, but God worketh from above, and overruleth the whole matter, according to this protestation of Moses, Thy God trieth thee. Ye see then that by knowing that God holdeth us under his hand, we be assured that no errors or abuses can have access unto us, unless so far forth as our Lord give them access. And mark it for a special point, to the end we think not that the devil reigneth at his own pleasure, and doeth all things as it were whether God will or no: for he must be fain to have leave of his master.
And now let vs marke, that if God sende such false miracles; it is not to intrap those that are his; but to punish such as haue not beleeued the Gospel,1