A17698:3617
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.
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 ⟨p. 954⟩God, and to commit us to his tuition, praying him to be our shield and fortress, and (finally) to be our defender. Let us mark therefore that God, in permitting us to have enemies, doeth thereby draw us unto him, that we should pray him always to succour and defend us.
Nowe hee saieth further, that if our enemies come foorth by one way, they shall flee seuen wayes. Whereby hee giueth vs to vnderstande, that our enemies may well conspire by great numbers, so as it may bee like that wee shoulde bee swallowed vp of them; but yet they shall bee filled with feare, as shalbe shewed more at large in another text. Heere wee haue to marke, that the susteining and maintaining of our life is in the hande of God, and that our rest and quietnesse depende also of him. And although that men doe continually deuise to hurt and annoy vs, yet is God euer strong ynough to disappoint them when hee hath once receiued vs into his protection, and to hinder them, so as they shalbe able to attempt nothing against vs, but the same shalbe ouerthrowen. That is a thing which we haue to beare in remembrance. Nowe when God permitteth vs to haue enemies, thereby he calleth vs vnto himselfe, & we ought to be the more prouoked to call vpon him when wee see our selues driuen thereto by necessitie. For if the worlde shoulde laugh on vs, and reioyce at vs on all partes: it woulde seeme vnto vs, that wee had no more neede of Gods protection. But when we be beset with perils and daungers, and see that men lye in waite for vs, seeking nothing else but to come in to vex vs; it standeth vs in hande to resort to