A17698:3602
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.
Moreover let us mark, that it is not in vain that God promiseth that they which serve him shall lead a happy life even in this world. Not that they shall be exempted from all adversity, for that is impossible, yea and also against our salvation. But he will so dispose our life as we shall perceive that he meant not to feed §10us with a vain hope, when he said that he will cause all them to prosper that hearken unto his voice. But by the way we must remember, that the blessings which be here contained, serve not to show what the sovereign felicity of men is: but to give us a taste of the heavenly life, to the end we should seek for the celestial inheritance which is promised us, there to set our rest. This must be laid forth more particularly, or else it will be dark. It is true, that §20there is difference betwixt us and the fathers that lived under the Law: For God did there entreat them as little children: and it was meet so to be. For they had not yet our Lord Jesus, who hath now set open the gates of heaven to bring us into the life and glory of heaven. Indeed they had as good part therein as we, but they were fain to walk in shadows and figures to understand it; therefore they had need of some aide, whereof we at this time §30have no need at all; neither may we think our state to be therefore the worse; as many do complain at this day, because that God doeth not dandle them, and that they be not (as seemeth to themselves) so much at their ease as the old fathers were: surely they deceive themselves in this comparison. For if any one of us should reckon up what he suffered all the days of his life, and therewithal look upon the state either of Abraham or of David: doubtless he shall §40find himself to be in better case than were the holy fathers:1 For they (as sayeth the Apostle) did but see the things afar of, which we behold before our eyes. God promised to be their Saviour, he had chosen them, to be, as it were, of his household; But where was he in the mean while that was promised to be the redeemer? Where was the doctrine that is made so manifest unto us in the Gospel concerning the resurrection? They knew the same a far off:
Moreouer let vs marke, that it is not in vaine that God promiseth that they which serue him shall leade a happie life euen in this worlde. Not that they shall bee exempted from all aduersitie, for that is impossible, yea and also against our saluation. But hee will so dispose our life as wee shall perceiue that hee meant not to feede