A17698:366
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.
True it is that men imagine themselves to have this virtue of manliness in themselves. And the very cause why they despise God, is that every of them makes his account to ⟨p. 75⟩compass his matters by his own power. But so far off are the common people from having any stoutness or manhood in them, without that God give it them: that God holdeth even the hearts of kings and princes in his hand,1 and although they seem to themselves to have much more strength and courage than others: yet doeth God make them to slip away like water, when he thinks good. So then let us mark well, that it is not in any mans power §10to be valiant, unless GOD strengthen him. And therefore we may apply this doctrine to double use. The one is that although a man see himself to be weak, he must not be out of heart for it: for there is a remedy ready for it, if we list to seek it. I say we must gather strength of mind by seeking it in God, yea even whensoever we be hindered to do our duty for want of courage. As for example: God perchance calleth us to glorify his name, he sholeth us out from this §20world, accordingly as it is his will that every man should renounce himself, and that we should forsake our own lusts. Now we see how possible it is to obey, yea and we know how far all our ability stretcheth. Again, we see also a great number of hazards, and the devil will face us with this inconvenience and that danger, where at we shall be as good as dismayed, so as we shall not dare to stir one finger to obey God and to execute his commandment.§30 And what is the reason? It is for that we be too fainthearted. Now it is not for us to stick still in this mire: but we must seek for strength where we can find it. Let us consider (say I) that God is able enough to amend the faintness of heart that holdeth us back, yea & which maketh us to shrink back from his word, and to turn head from it. Ye see then how we ought to take warning to flee unto GOD and to seek succour there, forsomuch as he §40hath mens hearts in his hand, and doth both fashion and bow them as he thinketh good. Likewise again, when we feel a good disposition in our selves, so as we would fain give the onset (as they say), and we have no fear at all to hold us back: