A17698:3676
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.
Therefore it is not without cause, that Moses having spoken of the sicknesses and griefs that GOD sendeth upon mens bodies, and in likewise of extraordinary chastisements, which constrain men in spite of their beards, to feel their sins, addeth here; God will strike thee with blindness, yea and he will so strike thee, that thy wits shall be amazed: thou shalt grope at noondays as in the dark: thou shalt have no more sense or feeling in thy heart: but thou shalt be altogether blockish. And here we be warned again, that the chastisements which happen to us in our minds should be more dreadful unto us, than all that we can suffer in our bodies. It is true that our nature draweth us clean contrary; for we be so tender and nice in our bodies, that as soon as we feel any grief, by and by we cry out, and leese our patience; and therein we see a part of our brutishness. For if we had any drop of stayed understanding, we would a hundred times be more afraid of the chastisements that God threateneth to our souls, than of all that ever we can endure in our bodies. In what case is a man, when he is forsaken of GOD, so as he seeketh him not any more, but endeavoureth by all means to hide him from his presence? Surely when we come to that point, if we could pluck God out of his seat, we would gladly do it. He that seeketh such hiding holes to convey himself ⟨p. 973⟩from coming unto God; doeth what he can to rob him of his majesty, and he is loath to come to present himself before such a Judge.
Therefore it is not without cause, that Moses hauing spoken of the sickenesses and griefes that GOD sendeth vppon mennes bodies, and in likewise of extraordinarie chastisementes, which constraine men in spite of their beardes, to feele their sinnes, addeth heere; God will strike thee with blindenesse, yea and hee will so strike thee, that thy wittes shall be amazed: thou shalt grope at noonedayes as in the darke: thou shalt haue no more sense or feeling in thy hearte: but thou shalt be altogether blockishe. And heere wee be warned againe, that the chastisements which happen to vs in our mindes shoulde be more dreadfull vnto vs, than all that we can suffer in our bodyes. It is true that our nature draweth vs cleane contrary; for wee be so tender and nice in our bodyes, that as soone as wee feele anie griefe, by and by we cry out, and leese our patience; and therein we see a part of our brutishnesse. For if we hadde any droppe of stayed vnderstanding, we would a hundreth times bee more afrayde of the chastisementes that God threatneth to oursoules, than of all that euer we can endure in our bodies. In what case is a man, when he is forsaken of GOD, so as he seeketh him not any more, but indeuoreth by al meanes to hyde him from his presence? Surely when we come to that point, if we coulde plucke God out of his seate, we would gladly doe it. Hee that seeketh such hydingholes to conuey himselfe