A17698:3062
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.
But let us also take heed that when we have some good seed, we corrupt it not. For the matter consisteth not altogether in imagining this or that of God: but we must have a sound & pure knowledge of him. For there is nothing more easy than to snarl ourselves, because we are so inclined unto vanity, & the devil also forgeth us many deceits to entangle our minds withal, so as the truth is by and by turned into a lie, except we stand heedfully upon our guard. And therefore let us learn to call upon God, to the intent that if he open himself unto us, we may not swerve neither to the right hand nor to the left: and that the knowledge which we have received, be not perverted nor abused. For here we see what happened unto them which hired Balaam. They took him as a Prophet: & in very deed Balac the king of Moab saith unto him:1 I know that they whom thou cursest shall be cursed, & those whom thou blessest shall be blessed. What is the cause why Balac speaketh thus? He saw that Balaam had received from God the gift of prophesying, and of foretelling many things to come. He was therefore of opinion that seeing God had made him such an excellent man, he should be heard. So his intent and purpose was, to bring to pass that God might be favourable unto him. ⟨p. 803⟩& this was good (as I told you) that he thought thus: Behold, if God be on our side all shall go well with us, we shall remain safe & sound: but if his hand be against us, we must needs perish. Ye see one good thing in Balac and in all the Moabites which were his subjects, for they acknowledged that if God were their adversary party, they could not withstand him, & thereupon they humbled themselves before him, and desired to obtain favour at his hand. Who will not highly esteem §10of this? yea, but in the mean while they went not the right way to work. As I told you afore, it is not enough for men to have some good meaning in generality, but they must come unto God in such sort as he commandeth, and they must not seek any by paths. For this is not the way to come unto him; nay rather it keepeth us aloof from him, & maketh us but to recoil. Therefore albeit the Moabites knew that the true happiness of men is to be in the favour of God,§20 and that they sought to come thereunto: yet notwithstanding they cease not to offend him grievously. And why so?