A17698:3607
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.
And indeed, we see how all the faithful have in that behalf behaved themselves. It is sure (as we have said) that David was divers ways in perplexity, and afflicted: no man more: but did he in all that while murmur against God? No. True it is that he uttered his griefs and passions: but that was with all meekness: and yet in the mean while he omitted not to say, that the anger of GOD lasted but a little while,1 and that when he afflicteth his people, he hath done in the turning of a hand: but his goodness lasteth long, and continueth unto life. As how? If we look into the whole life of David, what shall we find the rein? Behold, in his infancy he was brought up as a Shepherds son of the country,2 and God sayeth that he took him from the flocks, as he was among his cattle. When he came to the court of Saul,3 it is certain that, beyond all hope and opinion of the world, he was advanced to be the kings son in law: but it had been better for him to have continued still a shepherd in the field, than to have been in such travail and misery, so long time as we perceive he was: they sought his death by all means, and his life did not only hang as it were by a thread, but he was also had in reproach. In so much that they counted him the most wicked caitiff in the world,4 a Traitor to his Prince, a disloyal man to his King. Ye see then that David was as it were, abominable to every body. And when God had set him at peace [that way] then was he vexed with foreign war, insomuch as he had no sooner done with one people, but he was fain to turn him ⟨p. 952⟩about to another; and to make up the measure, his own natural son chased him out of his kingdom, meaning no less than to cut his throat: and we see what other conspiracies he suffered, as the conspiracy of Shimei. Yet did David always confess without feigning, that all the chastisements, miseries and afflictions that God sent him, were nothing unto him, and that they lasted but the turning of a hand, or for a minute of an hour, whereas his blessings §10