A17698:305
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.
Besides this, let us assure our selves that when we obey God, then hath he made his corrections available in us. True it is that a great number do harden when God goeth about to subdue them: ye shall see them grow wilful and full of venom against him. But God worketh after such a sort in his chosen, that when he smiteth them with his hand, he doth also touch them inwardly with his holy spirit, so as their harts §60become soft that they may obey, by reason whereof the corrections do them good. Although then that the miseries which we endure are hard and contrary to our nature: yet must we think them good, because God maketh them to serve for our welfare after that fashion.
Besides this, let vs assure our selues that when we obey God, then hath he made his corrections auaileable in vs. True it is that a great nomber doe harden when God goeth about to subdue them: yee shall see them growe wilfull and full of venim against him. But God worketh after such a sorte in his chosen, that when hee smiteth them with his hand, he doth also touch thē inwardly with his holy spirit, so as their harts §60become soft that they may obey, by reason wherof the corrections doe them good. Although then that the miseries which we indure are hard and contrary to our nature: yet must wee thinke them good, because God maketh them to serue for our welfare after that fashion.
Now Moses saith expressly, that after the people had fet a windlass and trailed about the mountain Seir, they came to the north side, even as God had commanded him. Wherein we see the thing more clearly which I have touched: that is to say, that there is a pliableness in the people which was not in them before: they be now become tractable. And although they wandered a long time, so as they might have bin out of patience every day, and have taken occasion to murmur, and to have made sedition: yet notwithstanding they went still forward. And why? for the corrections which they had received, had wrought a change in them. We see then that Gods reforming of men by punishing them for their sins,