A17698:3598
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.
Nevertheless God hath not permitted that knowledge so wholly to be buried, but that it remained amongst the Heathen, and Infidels, so as they understood, that because man would have usurped unto himself more knowledge than was lawful for him, that now all things are confounded in this world, and the life of man is become miserable, and so subdued to so many adversities as is horrible. Now, this is sufficient to make us altogether unexcusable: but §10yet will God have us, (us I mean whom God hath chosen to be of his household) to be more familiarly taught. This doth god speak as it were mouth to mouth: and look what the Infidels had but by imagination, the same doeth he tell and testify unto us: I say, he telleth it us, that we might know it familiarly: & he testifieth it unto us, that we should be thereof assured. That is the cause why he saith that he would make all manner of felicity to reign upon us, so we would §20hearken to his voice. Whereby he showeth, that if it were not long of our selves, he were ready and forward to entreat us as a father doth his children: and that he delighteth not to vex us with multitudes of evils, but that he meaneth rather to make us feel his goodness in all respects. Let us therefore be advised to walk in the obedience of our God, if we mean that he should pour upon us the treasures of his grace, in such wise as all our life may be blessed. Nevertheless,§30 it is certain that God oftentimes afflicteth his people for other causes, than their sins: as we see it happened to Job, which is a notable mirror for us. We see the like in the holy Patriarchs, who although they did endeavour and travail to serve God, yet were they in as great troubles and griefs as could be. The same is yet more manifest in the new Testament. For seeing that God hath revealed more fully, what is the perfect happiness of men: It behooveth §40the faithful to be exercised under many adversities in this transitory life. But let us mark first of all, that if God do not punish the sins of the faithful, he doeth it to preserve them, as the Physician that waiteth not always till the sickness do appear, but if he perceive any likelihood that a man is in danger, he will prevent it.
Neuerthelesse God hath not permitted that knowledge so wholly to be buried, but that it remained amongst the Heathen, and Infidels, so as they vnderstoode, that because man woulde haue vsurped vnto himselfe more knowledge than was lawfull for him, that now all thinges are confounded in this worlde, and the life of man is become miserable, and so subdued to so many aduersities as is horrible. Now, this is sufficient to make vs altogether vnexcusable: but