A17698:2592
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.
Also here is mention made of workers with Familiars. As touching the which, needs must Satan's illusions be horrible. But what? There have been of them in all ages, and we see a notable example thereof in king Saul when he went to the Witch.1 He as king had erst forbidden all enchantments and all kind of damnable crafts, and he had behaved himself virtuously in executing Gods law. And yet in the end he became so wretched, that he fell §60to running after a Witch. And what was the cause thereof, but that he despised God? Whereupon in the end he fell into despair, and gave himself over altogether to Satan: which thing he showed full well. For if ye look advisedly into the matter, ye shall find that Satan's illusions do then get the upper hand of men, when their wits be amazed by reason of sorrowfulness that gnaweth them inwardly, & for that in stead of receiving some comfort of Gods word, they be overwhelmed with such anguish, that they fall into utter despair. When doeth Satan meet a man in some bodily shape, and tangle him in his snares? When a man is in some grief of mind, or in some hatred against his neighbour, or when a woman spiteth her husband. Well then, although such affections bear sway, yet doeth not God by and by give Satan the bridle, to reign over men, until they be come to such extremity that they fall to chawing upon the bit, and become so wilful in their sorrow, that they fall into despair and will no more admit any comfort, but refuse all remembrance of GOD, and would that his name were buried: for there is the gate open to Satan, and he entereth to work his illusions, which a man is not able to withstand. Hereof we have a fair warning is Saul. For he had offended God, and therefore was to be bereft of his kingdom, because it was Gods pleasure it should be so, and there was none other shift for him but to humble himself. But he would not do that. And when he saw there was no mean to appease Gods displeasure, but that for all his flattering of Samuel,2 yet he availed so little thereby, that when he had rent the Prophets Cote, the Prophet said unto him, even so will God rend the kingdom from thee: he cried out and flung himself out of his bounds, saying thus: What should I do more? Seeing that God hath forsaken me, I also on my side must forsake him. And what was the end hereof?