A17698:358
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.
If we followed this doctrine, such as are poor would be contented with their slenderness, and crave no more of God but to be sustained: and the rich sort would not be so blinded with unsatiable covetousness, as to increase themselves still by adding piece to piece. And therefore it standeth us so much the more on hand to bear this doctrine in mind, sith we see how sore our life is disordered, and we cannot rule our lusts according to Gods will, which only can and ought to master them.
If wee followed this doctrine, such as are poore would be contented with their slendernesse, and craue no more of God but to bee susteyned: and the rich sort would not be so blinded with vnsatiable couetousnesse, as to increase themselues still by adding peece to peece. And therefore it standeth vs so much the more on hande to beare this doctrine in minde, sith we see howe sore our life is disordered, and we cannot rule our lustes according to Gods will, which onely can and ought to master them.
Again on the other side, we see how we pick out enemies: whereas it belongeth to GOD to appoint us them. In good faith what is the cause that men heave one at another, that they seek to eat up one another, and that there is so much strife, trouble, and quarrelling? It is for that as soon as any man is grieved, by and by he will needs be revenged: and we cannot abide that any man should touch us in our goods or our persons, but incontinently we will be at open war with him. As for patience, there is none at all in us. But our Lord will have us to overcome evil with good, that in so doing we may be as his sheep. But no man will be brought to so much reason. Men then arm themselves where God commandeth them to be quiet and peaceable: and they will needs have them enemies, ⟨p. 74⟩whom God would have them to labour to win by love and gentleness.
Againe on the other side, wee see howe wee picke out enemies: whereas it belongeth to GOD to appoint vs them. In good faith what is the cause that men heaue one at another, that they seeke to eate vp one another, and that there is so much strife, trubble, and quareling? It is for that as soone as any man is greeued, by and by hee will needes bee reuenged: and wee cannot abide that any man shoulde touch vs in our goods or our persons, but incontinently wee will be at open warre with him. As for patience, there is none at all in vs. But our Lorde will haue vs to ouercome euill with good, that in so doing wee may be as his sheepe. But no man will bee brought to so much reason. Men then arme themselues where God commaundeth them to bee quiet and peaceable: and they will needes haue them enemies,