A17698:3630
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.
Moreover it is a notable manner of speech, when he saith, That God will open his good treasure, namely the heaven, to give us rain, that the earth may bring forth food. Here Moses setteth forth the order of nature which we see with our eyes, that we might the better understand how God is our father and our nourisher: and that although the sustenance whereon we feed is gathered from the earth: yet is it only God that sendeth all things. How so? The earth in deed hath nature given unto it, to bring forth fruit; but if it should continue dry, what would come of it? We see that unless there fall both rain and dew, the earth doth open, as though it would cry out that it were a thirst, and it dryeth up for want of moisture. And therefore David intending to utter his earnest desire of Gods grace, useth this similitude, saying: Lord I am unto thee as a dry ground.1 We see before our eyes how the earth becometh barren and parcheth for want of moisture, and finally hath neither strength nor substance. Had it so pleased God, could not he have given property to the earth, to have of it self substance enough? For as we read in Genesis,2 there was not such rain in the beginning as we have in these days: but GOD caused a certain vapour to rise up to moisten the earth: and cannot he do the same now, or else that the earth should have some certain moisture proceeding from underneath? And in deed, wherehence cometh the rain? If ye ask the Philosophers, they will say that the rain cometh of the vapours that ascend out of the earth, which being drawn up into the air, be sent down again upon the earth. Thus then, after the opinion of the Philosophers, the vapours do ascend: But now wherefore cometh it, that GOD cannot make the heavens to yield rain except it come first out of the earth: or the earth to keep still that moisture which it hath, so that it may always have strength and substance of it self? What is the cause of this rising up of the vapours, that when the earth hath yielded them forth, they be held up in the air as in Bottles: as is mentioned in the Psalm?3 What is the cause of all this? It is for that he seeth us to be so blockish and gross, that although he show as with his finger, that it is at his hand that we receive all goodness; yet is it his meaning to make us to perceive it in a more visible manner.