A17698:337
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.
Moab, thou wart the covert of my people, but when they came to thee, thou drovest them away, yea and dealtest more cruelly with them th•n their enemies. That was the recompense which those nations yielded whom God had so greatly borne withal, and to whom he had showed so great kindness: but yet ought not that unkindness of theirs, to make the children of Israel to show themselves uncourteous towards them. For their sparing of them after that sort, increased their condemnation the more, I mean them that had so ill acknowledged the benefit. And therefore GOD failed not to punish such treachery.
Moab, thou wart the couert of my people, but when they came to thee, thou drauest them away, yea and deltest more cruelly with them th•n their enemies. That was the recompence which those nations yeelded whom God had so greatly borne withall, and to whom hee had shewed so great kindnesse: but yet ought not that vnkindnesse of theirs, to make the children of Israel to shewe themselues vncurteous towardes them. For their sparing of them after that sort, increased their condemnation the more, I meane them that had so ill acknowledged the benefite. And therfore GOD failed not to punish such trecherie.
Now then we be taught, first not to pass whether men acknowledge the good that we have done them or no. For albeit that we may seem to lose the thing that we shall have done: yet let it suffice us that GOD alloweth our obedience, in that he sayeth, be kindhearted towards all men. And when we shall have endeavoured to do good to all men, without hurting of any man: if men acknowledge it not, but do the contrary unto us: very well, let us not pass for it, but let us bear their unthankfulness patiently. For why? We have served GOD, who will not forget what we have done. Therefore if the world be set upon such frowardness, as we may be occasioned to feel some grief and impatience: yet must we still keep on our course, which God hath commanded us. Mark that for one point.