A17698:2210
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.
Now it is said consequently, That the Lord• thy God may bless thee in all the works of thy hands. In this text we have two things to mark. The one is that all our Labour would be to no purpose, if God of his mere grace did not prosper it. Let that serve for one point. Another is, that if we will have God to further us, we must honour him with the goods which he giveth us, by using them in such wise as he commandeth us. For if he be defrauded of his right, he can soon bereave us of his blessing, so as we shall be dispurueied and stripped out of all things; and when we think our selves to have abundance of all things at will, he will make it to vanish away to less than nothing. Those be the two things which we have to bear in mind. As touching the first, let us bear in mind that men are commanded to travel for their living,1 and that such as do take pains shall be maintained by their labour. But yet must not men say. It is mine own policy, it is the labour of mine own hands that hath gotten me this or that, as we have seen in the eight chapter,2 where God fed his people forty years with Manna, to make them to know that when they were come into the land of Canaan, albeit that they tilled the ground, gathered the grapes, and reaped down the corn; yet they should not imagine that their living proceeded from elsewhere than from Gods mere goodness who blessed them.3 And that is the cause why it is said in the psalm, that we may well rise early and go to bed late, and eat our bread with sorrow; & yet notwithstanding all shall go to decay, and God shall hold us under foot, until we be sure of his blessing.
Now it is sayd consequently, That the Lord• thy God may blesse thee in all the workes of thy handes. In this text wee haue two things to marke. The one is that all our Labour would bee to no purpose, if God of his meere grace did not prosper it. Let that serue for one poynt. Another is, that if wee will haue God to further vs, wee must honor him with the goods which hee giueth vs, by vsing them in such wise as he commaundeth vs. For if hee be defrawded of his right, hee can soone bereaue vs of his blessing, so as wee shall bee dispurueied and stript out of all thinges; and when wee thinke our selues to haue abundance of all thinges at will, hee will make it to vanish away to lesse than nothing. Those bee the two thinges which wee haue to beare in minde. As touching the first, let vs beare in minde that men are commaunded to trauell for their liuing,