A17698:268
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.
Go to (say they) sith it is so, we will go and march against our enemies, seeing it is Gods pleasure. Nay, ye see here, that God meant to try their faith and obedience another way, that is to wit, by their forbearing to do any thing at all. Because he saw they had not obeyed him at the first: now he will have them ashamed of it, and to tarry his leisure till he have pity of them. And forasmuch as he had sworn that they should not come there: his will was that they should (after the example of Moses) have suffered themselves to be bereft of that honour as they were worthy. We see then that men have but too great frowardness when GOD commandeth them to sit at rest: and contrariwise that they be but too cold, when he would have them to go forward: nay they will rather creep into crannies, than go forth when God biddeth them.
Goe to (say they) sith it is so, we will goe and march against our enemies, seeing it is Gods pleasure. Nay, yee see heere, that God ment to trie their faith and obedience another way, that is to wit, by their forbearing to doe any thing at all. Because hee sawe they had not obeyed him at the first: nowe he will haue them ashamed of it, and to tarie his leisure till hee haue pitie of them. And forasmuch as hee had sworne that they shoulde not come there: his will was that they shoulde (after the example of Moses) haue suffered themselues to bee bereft of that honour as they were worthie. Wee see then that men haue but too greate frowardnesse when GOD commaundeth them to sit at rest: and contrariwise that they bee but too colde, when he would haue them to goe forwarde: nay they will rather creepe into cranies, than goe forth when God biddeth them.
Howbeit, for the better understanding of this matter, let us mark that this people offended in preaching forward without promise. For as I have said afore, we must not be hardy any further than God biddeth us. Therefore when we have but a word of his mouth, we must take courage, and put all lette• under foot that may turn us away. For the thing wherein GOD will be glorified, is that he command us nothing in vain. And specially when he promiseth us good success to our matters, and to prosper our doings: then must we rest thereupon, assuring our selves that he will give us