A17698:271
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 Moses addeth, that They made themselves ready with their armour and weapons. Yea forsooth, but it is all one as if ye should put an armour upon a scarecrows back, and take §60him a sword in his fist: surely he were substantially well armed: but in deed all were to no purpose. Even so is it with us: If we were furnished with all the helps of man and with all inferior means, and in the mean while were not strengthened in our hearts, but were full of foolish self-weening, and as it were drunkenness, by presuming upon our own power: all the bravery that we can make, is but wind and smoke, because we have not an eye unto God, but are rebellious against him. Wherefore let us learn to leave the arming of our selves, and to seek strength and courage at Gods hand, and then let us take armour & weapon as at his appointment. If we go that way to work, God will prosper the helps that he hath given us: for he will bless them, because we sought them at his hand. Besides this, he himself will stand by us though all other means fail us. For divers times he will perchance suffer us to be made naked, and let the world mock us, as though we were undone aforehand: but yet will he provide well enough for all at leastwise so that afore all things we be furnished with his inward virtue. This is the thing that we had to mark, yet further upon this text.
Nowe Moses addeth, that They made themselues readie with their armour and weapons. Yea forsooth, but it is all one as if ye shoulde put an armour vppon a scarecrowes backe, and take §60him a sworde in his fiste: surely hee were substantially well armed: but in deede all were to no purpose. Euen so is it with vs: If wee were furnished with all the helpes of man and with al inferiour meanes, and in the meane whyle were not strengthened in our heartes, but were full of foolishe selfeweening, and as it were drunkennesse, by presuming vppon our owne power: all the brauerie that wee can make, is but winde and smoke, bicause wee haue not an eye vnto God, but are rebellious against him. Wherefore let vs learne to leaue the arming of our selues, and to seeke strength and courage at Gods hand, and then let vs take armour & weapon as at his appointment. If we go that way to worke, God will prosper the helpes that he hath giuen vs: for he will blesse thē, bicause we sought them at his hand. Besides this, he himselfe will stand by vs though all other meanes faile vs. For diuers times he will perchaunce suffer vs to bee made naked, and let ye world mock vs, as though we were vndone aforehand: but yet will he prouide wel ynough for all at leastwise so that afore all things wee be furnished with his inward vertue. This is the thing that we had to marke, yet further vpon this text.