A17698:3616
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.
Seeing then that we must dwell amongst the contemners of God, and amongst the wicked; let us make our reckoning that we shall be troubled, and have enemies, let us endeavour to appease them so much as we can, and let us give them none occasion of hatred: but yet in the mean while let us not be unprovided, howsoever the matter standeth. Thus much concerning that one point. For God hath not said, I will utterly root out your enemies, so as you shall have the world by your selves. wherein to lead a happy and quiet life, and to have all the felicity that can be wished: he sayeth not so: but he saith, Albeit that you be compassed round about with your enemies, yet will I not suffer them to have the upper hand over you.
Seeing then that wee must dwell amongst the contemners of God, and amongst the wicked; let vs make our reckoning that wee shall be troubled, and haue enemies, let vs endeuour to appease them so much as we can, and let vs giue them none occasion of hatred: but yet in the meane while let vs not be vnprouided, howsoeuer the matter standeth. Thus much concerning that one point. For God hath not saide, I will vtterly roote out your enemies, so as you shall haue the worlde by your selues. wherein to leade a happie and quiet life, and to haue all the felicitie that can bee wished: hee saieth not so: but hee saith, Albeit that you bee compassed rounde about with your enemies, yet will I not suffer them to haue the vpper hand ouer you.
Now he sayeth further, that if our enemies come forth by one way, they shall flee seven ways. Whereby he giveth us to understand, that our enemies may well conspire by great numbers, so as it may be like that we should be swallowed up of them; but yet they shall be filled with fear, as shall be showed more at large in another text. Here we have to mark, that the sustaining and maintaining of our life is in the hand of God, and that our rest and quietness depend also of him. And although that men do continually devise to hurt and annoy us, yet is God ever strong enough to disappoint them when he hath once received us into his protection, and to hinder them, so as they shall be able to attempt nothing against us, but the same shall be overthrown. That is a thing which we have to bear in remembrance. Now when God permitteth us to have enemies, thereby he calleth us unto himself, & we ought to be the more provoked to call upon him when we see our selves driven thereto by necessity. For if the world should laugh on us, and rejoice at us on all parts: it would seem unto us, that we had no more need of Gods protection. But when we be beset with perils and dangers, and see that men lye in wait for us, seeking nothing else but to come in to vex us; it standeth us in hand to resort to