A17698:3604
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.
Yet notwithstanding we must return to this point, that God, in making us to taste of his favour here, meaneth not that we should be so glutted therewith, that we should forget the everlasting rest whereunto he inviteth us. And so all the benefits of GOD which belong unto this transitory life, must serve us for ladders to mount upward, and nor for Cushions to fall a sleep upon in this world. When God giveth a man wherewith to live, enduing him with health, and suffering him not to be vexed of his enemies; what else should such a man do but be drawn by the grace of God, to endeavour to serve him so much the more, and not misbehave himself in this world; but go on forward, using that which is given him,1 as though he used it not at all, so as no thing stop him from keeping on his way still unto God? But we do all things clean contrary, and therefore we ought to be wakefuller. When we hear the promises that be here contained, let us not think, that the meaning of God was to pamper the old people in their transitory pleasures: but rather that the same should be a mean, to draw them up on high as he meaneth nowadays towards us: For all the good that we receive of him, hath this end and intent, that our minds should always be raised up to the heavenly life. Doth God give us bread to eat? Therein he showeth himself to be our father. Yea, but yet for all that we being his children, cease not to be as wanderers in this world, having always one foot lifted up, and we have here no rest. Therefore let us have an eye to the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, and let the ⟨p. 951⟩bread which we eat to nourish us, be a mean to direct us thither. After the same manner is it with all other things. Now let us come to that which is here contained in the text of Moses, and then in the end we shall the better understand what hath been said. Moses saith here, That God will bless his people both in the town and in the field, he will bless them in the seed of their body: he will bless them in their cattle, he will bless them in the fruit of their land, he will bless them in §10their baskets and in their stores and in their Granaries, he will bless them in giving them victory against their enemies.
Yet notwithstanding wee must returne to this point, that God, in making vs to taste of his fauour heere, meaneth not that wee shoulde be so glutted therewith, that wee shoulde forget the euerlasting rest whereunto hee inuiteth vs. And so all the benefites of GOD which belong vnto this transitorie life, must serue vs for ladders to mount vpwarde, and nor for Cushions to fall a sleepe vppon in this worlde. When God giueth a man wherewith to liue, indewing him with health, and suffering him not to bee vexed of his enemies; what else shoulde such a man doe but bee drawen by the grace of God, to endeuour to serue him so much the more, and not misbehaue himselfe in this worlde; but go on foreward, vsing that which is giuen him,