A17698:3629
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 Moses doth repeat again that which he had said concerning the fruit of the womb, of Cattle, and of the Earth. Truly it had bin sufficient, to have promised at once, that all bodily blessings proceed from God. But on the one side we see the mistrust that is in men, how that when God speaketh unto them, they cease not to argue and to reply; Yea, but shall be sure of it? And therefore to resolve us the better, God §30confirmeth the matter which he had spoken of. Again we see our unthankfulness to be such, that we attribute the things to Fortune, and to our own skill and travel, which God hath done for us. Therefore he calleth us unto him, and showeth that it is he which doth it: and on the other side he would have us to understand, that if we intend to prosper in all points, we must hearken to him and obey him. For all men, yea even the wickeddest in the world are desirous to §40have issue of their own bodies, increase of cattle, and great revenues. But what? In the mean while we despise▪ God the author of all goodness, and seem as though we laboured of purpose to thrust his hand far from us: which is as much as if I should ask a man an alms, and give him a whirret on the ear: or as if he should come to succour me, and I should spit in his face: even so deal we with our God. God therefore perceiving such a malice in us, and §50that we cannot be taught at the first, but do stop our ears against that which he saith; repeateth the same things again which he had spoken to us before. Whereby he warneth us, that if we want any thing, we must lay the blame thereof upon our own sin, and not upon him. Why so? Because he is ready for his part, to bless us as well in issue of our bodies, as in revenue of land, and in cattle, and is liberal and rich enough for us, neither will he be strait §60laced towards us of the blessings that be in his possession. Let us therefore acknowledge, that the fault is in us, when he withdraweth his benefits, and giveth them not unto us so largely as we would.
Now Moses doth repeate againe that which he had sayd concerning the fruite of the womb, of Cattell, and of the Earth. Truely it had bin sufficient, to haue promised at once, yt al bodily blessings proceede from God. But on the one side we see the mistrust that is in men, how that when God speaketh vnto them, they cease not to argue and to reply; Yea, but shall be sure of it? And therefore to resolue vs the better, God