A17698:3504
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.
Again, because men are so stifnecked, that they stoop not but with much ado, and because on the other side their lusts carry them so headlong away, that they quickly forget what it is to serve God, & play the wild horses which are broken §20lose; here are threatenings added: Take heed how you offend me, for vengeance is ready for them that despise my law. Thus see you what the cursings are which we shall see more fully in the 28. chap. but Moses toucheth them here as it were by way of example. Now it were enough if God had but pronounced & said, Whosoever serveth me in keeping my law, he shall be blessed, & I will make his whole life prosperous unto him. Seeing God hath once promised to recompense them which §30serve him, it ought well to suffice us. What need men to speak in their own behalf? Likewise seeing God pronounceth sentence of condemnation upon them that transgress his law, forasmuch as that Judge himself hath spoken; no man ought to reply. What need is there then that we should ratify that which God hath said, as if his word were not of sufficient strength & authority in it self? True it is that god deserveth well to be harkned unto, & that thing which he saith is as an unchangeable §40decree: but yet he will have men by outward witnessing to allow that which he willeth us to follow, he will have us to acknowledge the favour which is offered unto us, & to declare that we are assured by faith, that he will not deceive us in promising us prosperity when we endeavour to live according to his word. God therefore will have us so agree with him, that we also confess in humbleness & fear, that there is great reason why he should punish all those that despise & overthrow his righteousness, & §50commandments. And when he threateneth them, we may not think it it is in vain, but that in the end they shall feel the execution of that sentence. God therefore in this respect will have us to say Amen, both to the promises which he maketh unto them that keep his law, & unto the threatenings which he denounceth against all them that are rebels & despisers of him. So then we have now made a good entrance unto the understanding of this place. As touching the blessings and cursings, we shall §60more fully treat of them in the chapter following: and we shall do better to keep them to be handled there, because the place is more fit for them.