A17698:2148
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.
Seeing we have such comfort, is it not too great an unthankfulness to torment our selves after the manner of the heathen and the infidels, when God taketh any man away from us? Yes: And therefore when Saint Paul exhorteth the faithful to have patience in the departure of their friends,1 he saith expressly, Sorrow not as the unbelievers do. In deed Saint Paul saw well that we can not be senseless: for in very deed it were no patience if we felt no grief. If we were stark blocks, it were no virtue at all If a man should laugh at the death of his wife or of his father, it were a beastly brutishness. Therefore it behoveth us to feel the inconvenience and to be touched with it, so ⟨p. 554⟩as it pinch us and grieve us: But yet must God assuage it again, because we know that he hath all superiority over our lives; and we must suffer him to dispose of us as he thinks good. Again we must go boldly unto him, being well assured of his goodness and mercy, and we must not doubt but that death shall be to our salvation, and that whether we live or die, all shall without fail turn to our benefit and welfare so we be in Christ Jesus. Thus ye see what we have to §10bear in mind.
Seeing wee haue such comfort, is it not too great an vnthankefulnesse to torment our selues after the maner of the heathen and the infidels, when God taketh any man away from vs? Yes: And therefore when Saint Paul exhorteth the faithfull to haue patience in the departure of their friendes,1 he saith expressely, Sorrow not as the vnbeleeuers doe. In deede Saint Paul sawe well that we can not bee senselesse: for in verie deede it were no patience if wee felte no greefe. If wee were starke blockes, it were no vertue at all If a man shoulde laugh at the death of his wife or of his father, it were a beastly brutishnesse. Therefore it behoueth vs to feele the inconuenience and to be touched with it, so ⟨p. 554⟩as it pinch vs and greeue vs: But yet must God assuage it againe, because we know that he hath all superioritie ouer our liues; and wee must suffer him to dispose of vs as hee thinkes good. Againe we must goe boldly vnto him, being well assured of his goodnes and mercie, and we must not doubt but that death shall bee to our saluation, and that whether we liue or die, al shal without fayle turne to our benefite and welfare so we be in Christ Iesus. Thus yee see what we haue to