A17698:317
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.
And let us weigh well the words that are set down here: Thou shalt not provoke them (saith he) and they shall be afraid of thee. And he addeth afterward, Thou shalt buy the bread that thou must ease, yea and even the water that thou shalt drink, §20so as thou must always have thy purse open to pay and content them. Here we see that when God intendeth to maintain a people in their possession, he provoketh them not to make them misbehave themselves, for even therefore did he cast that fear upon the Edomites, to the end that the children of Israel should not have any occasion of war. We shall see hereafter how God hardened the hart of Sehon, and inflamed the other inhabitants of the country,1 so as they §30armed themselves against the people of Israel, because he was minded to drive them out. And so did he show the children of Israel by effect, that they had just cause of war. But whereas he held the Edomites in awe, and inclined their hearts in such wise as they gave passage to the children of Israel, and bought and sold quietly with them: therein we see (as I touched before) that when our Lord purposeth to maintain a people in their possession, he will give §40them such a mind as they shall not provoke their neighbours, nor open them any gap by striking up the drum, or by sounding the trumpet first themselves. To be short, the war shall not spring on their own side. Therefore we must conclude, that when a people do put forth themselves, or when a prince will needs attempt foolish enterprises, and be meddling here and there: we may perceive it is Gods doing, of purpose to overthrow him and to bereave him §50of the country that he had given him. So much the more then ought we to pray God to maintain us and to make us mild and peaceable, that we may not follow those whom we see to have their heads full of unquietness, so as they must needs be meddling with one thing or other. Let us abstain from such things, that our Lord may maintain us in peace: for that is the true mean, as I said afore.
And let vs wey well the wordes that are set downe here: Thou shalt not prouoke them (sayth he) and they shall be afraide of thee. And hee addeth afterwarde, Thou shalt buy the bread that thou must ease, yea and euen the water that thou shalt drinke,