A17698:3153
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.
Therefore let us learn to fare the better by all those teachings which God bestoweth upon us. When we see that he curseth such as snatch so to themselves on all sides, which play the ravening wolves, which have nothing in them but craft and wiliness to circumvent, and to snare the simpler sort: when we see how God undermineth them and consumeth them again when we behold on the other side that he blesseth those which walk soundly and uprightly, and that although they have no great abundance, yet he faileth not to nourish them and to have a care of their family: when we see this, let us desire much rather to be blessed in this sort of our God, than to have all the means in the world which are so accursed of him. And in deed, the grace and favour of God shineth forth much clearer when a man hath not much to live upon, than when he hath great revenues and a rich trade of Merchandise, and money in his purse and provision of his own, both in his garners and in his cellars. Why so? ⟨p. 827⟩For if a man be so well furnished of all things, he maketh this reckoning, that God hath no longer need to help him. But when a man must live from hand to mouth, or when he hath not much to maintain himself withal, & that at least he might consume all that he hath in the compass of one year: and that yet for all that he goeth on without diminishing, and yet knoweth not whence his wealth proceedeth, but that he is certainly persuaded that God §10hath pity of him; when he thus driveth away the time, and at the end of the year acknowledgeth that it was God only which sustained him and his; therein (say I) there is a much more manifest declaration of the goodness of God, and GOD by effect showeth unto us how be blesseth his, and how much his blessing availeth.
Therefore let vs learne to fare the better by all those teachinges which God bestoweth vpon vs. When wee see that he curseth such as snatch so to themselues on all sides, which play the rauening wolues, which haue nothing in them but craft and wilinesse to circumuent, and to snare the simpler sorte: when wee see how God vndermineth them and consumeth them again when wee behold on the other side that he blesseth those which walke soundly and vprightlie, and that although they haue no great aboundance, yet he fayleth not to nourish them and to haue a care of their familie: when wee see this, let vs desire much rather to bee blessed in this sort of our God, than to haue all the meanes in the worlde which are so accursed of him. And in deede, the grace and fauour of God shineth forth much clearer when a man hath not much to liue vppon, than when hee hath great reuenewes and a rich trade of Marchandise, and monie in his purse and prouision of his owne, both in his garners and in his sellars. Why so?