A17698:315
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 are wars made nowadays by the authority of God? Have men an eye to the thing that is lawful? Yea, or do they tarry till they have commandment from God? Nay, they go to it in despite of him, the divill drives them forward. True it is that if a man reason of Realms and Principalities as they be nowadays: it may be alleged, how hath this realm bin invaded, and how hath that country bin conquered? Yea, but yet for all that, it is not for men to remove bounds. Although they have bin confounded: yet is it not for us to enterprise any thing. For our Lord hath not given us commission so to do: he hath reserved that to himself.
But are warres made nowadayes by the authoritie of God? Haue men an eye to the thing that is lawfull? Yea, or doe they tary till they haue commandement from God? Nay, they go to it in despite of him, the diuill driues them forewarde. True it is that if a man reason of Realmes and Principalities as they bee nowadayes: it may be alledged, how hath this realme bin inuaded, and how hath that country bin conquered? Yea, but yet for all that, it is not for men to remoue boundes. Although they haue bin confounded: yet is it not for vs to enterprise any thing. For our Lorde hath not giuen vs commission so to doe: hee hath reserued that to himselfe.
But let us mark likewise, that when men have once altered the order that God hath set, he must needs overthrow them. And that is the cause why there happen so many changes, and it is marvel that there are not seen yet a hundred times mo. Surely if God had not a special regard to the preservation of mankind: no doubt but we should see alterations of kingdoms every day, so that within two or three days, he that is now a king should be but as one that were dressed in a players apparel, to play an interlude upon a stage. But yet for all that we must mark well, that the alterations of kingdoms which happen, do serve to punish the changes that were made afore, when men removed their bounds at the beginning, and would needs pervert the order that God had set. Nevertheless, howsoever the case stands, let us bear this lesson in mind, ⟨p. 64⟩