A17698:2374
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 so let us mark, that the things which we read here in Moses, declare unto us that forasmuch as it was Gods will that the Jews in the time of the law should have a week to put them in mind how they had been as pilgrims in the wilderness, and that he had maintained them there after a strange fashion: we in these days (because the figure is abolished) must repair to the trueth, that is to say, we must remember that God harboureth us in such sort in this world, as that he will not have us to nestle here, nor to be so entangled in it as to make it our everlasting resting place, but to sty upward still, and to be here as birds sitting upon a bough. True it is that God is so favourable to a great number, that they never remove from home of all the time of their life, and yet they be never the less Christians for all that: but yet must not any man make him a nest upon earth upon imagination that he will rest here. Where as Saint Paul saith that he had no rest;1 he meant it specially of himself and of certain others of the faithful, whom God tossed from post to pillar. But as for the meaning of the mind, that must needs be common to all the faithful, namely that they have no resting place in this world. Although then that GOD do bear with some mens weakness, so as they never remove out of the place where they were borne, but continue at home still in their own houses: yet must they consider that they ought to be always ready and to have one foot set forward, against the time that it shall please God to remove them into some strange country so as they make not their reckoning to be so settled in any place, that they should not depart from it, but rather be ready to go, whensoever GOD calleth to fleet any whither else.
And so let vs marke, that the thinges which wee reade here in Moses, declare vnto vs that for asmuch as it was Gods will that the Iewes in the time of the lawe shoulde haue a weeke to put them in minde howe they had beene as pilgrims in the wildernesse, and that he had maintayned them there after a straunge fashion: we in these daies (because the figure is abolished) must repaire to the trueth, that is to say, wee must remember that God harboreth vs in such sort in this world, as that he wil not haue vs to nestle here, nor to be so intangled in it as to make it our euerlasting resting place, but to stie vpward still, and to bee here as birdes sitting vppon a bough. True it is that God is so fauourable to a great number, that they neuer remooue from home of all the time of their life, and yet they be neuer the lesse Christians for all that: but yet must not any man make him a nest vppon earth vppon imagination that he will rest here. Where as Saint Paul saith that he had no rest;