A17698:253
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.
For God commanded him to take his staff, and to strike upon a rock, and §40to make water to come out of it before the people. He obeyed. We see not there any replying at all: nay we see not that Moses did so much as once doubt. Moreover when he speaketh to the people,1 he saith: Come on ye rebels, must God be fain to make water to come out of this rock, which you see now so hard and dry? Ye see he rebuketh the people sharply, and a man would think he could not glorify God better. And yet for all this, it is said §50unto him, Thou hast not given unto me the honour that belonged to me, and therefore thou shalt be banished out of the land that belonged by inheritance unto thee. And did he sin then? As I said afore, if we judge after our own fancy, it will seem to us that Moses discharged himself well in all points, so as he offended not, ne had any spot or blemish in him. But what for that? Hereby we see that it belongeth only unto God to judge, and that we §60may be deceived at all turns, in following our own wit and reason. Wherefore let us keep this rule which is very needful: that is to wit, that we be far unable to discern good and evil always by eye sight, for as is said in the sixteenth of Saint Luke,2 the thing that is highly esteemed among men, shall be abominable before God. When we have sifted a thing never so well, and settled all our wits to utter it well: yet shall it seem to us clean contrary to that it is indeed. Now then, let us cast down our eyes and acknowledge that none but only God is the competent judge.
For God commaunded him to take his staffe, and to strike vpon a rocke, and §40to make water to come out of it before the people. Hee obeyed. Wee see not there any replying at al: nay we see not that Moses did so much as once doubt. Moreouer when hee speaketh to the people,1 hee saith: Come on yee rebelles, must God bee faine to make water to come out of this rocke, which you see nowe so harde and drie? Yee see hee rebuketh the people sharpely, and a man woulde thinke hee coulde not glorifie God better. And yet for all this, it is saide