A17698:3603
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.
but §50now it is declared unto us in the Gospel, in such manner, as we may indeed say, as our Lord Jesus Christ gave us also to understand,1 That blessed be the ears which hear the things that are told us concerning him, and the eyes that see the things which we see: for the holy kings and Prophets have longed for the same, and could not obtain it. We therefore have a much more excellent state, than they had which lived under the law. This is the difference whereof §60I speak, which had need to be supplied by God, for the imperfection that was in the doctrine concerning the revealing of the heavenly life, which the fathers knew but by outward tokens, albeit that they were dear unto God. Now that Jesus Christ is come down hither, and hath showed us how we ought to follow him, by suffering many afflictions, as it is told us,2 and that we must be fashioned after his image in bearing poverty and reproach, and all such like things; and to be short, that our life must be as a kind of death: forasmuch as we know all this, and the infinite power of God is uttered in his raising up Jesus Christ from death, and in his exalting of him to the glory of heaven; should not we thereupon take good courage? And ought it not to be a sweetening to all the afflictions that we can suffer? Have not we cause to rejoice in the middest of our sorrows? Let us note then that if the old fathers were more blessed of God than we be, as touching this present life, we ought not to wonder at it at all. For the reason thereof is apparent. But howsoever the world go, yet is this saying of Saint Paul always verified,3 That the fear of GOD hath the promises not only of the life to come, but of this present life also. Let us walk therefore in the obedience of God, and then shall we be assured that he will show himself a father unto us, yea even in the maintenance of our bodies, at leastwise so far forth as concerneth the keeping and preserving of us in peace, the delivering of us from all evils, and the succouring of us in all our necessities. God (I say) will make us to feel his blessing in all these things, so that we walk in his fear.