A17698:3677
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.
And truly, although a man have no further harm than this blockishness, so as he feeleth not his own misery; is it not a token that God hath already given him over to a reprobate mind? Yes: for there is not a more evident sign of reprobation, than to be without remorse or §10scruple of conscience. Moreover, when a man is frighted and out of his right wits, in such wise as he wotteth not which way to turn him, and hath no more taste or feeling of God, nor can any skill to lament for his sins, or to ask forgiveness of them, and to repent him of them: but gnasheth his teeth, and by teth the bridle like a Mule: is not that a dreadful thing? When we behold such glass, our hairs stand up right, and even nature forceth us to §20it. And yet for all that, if we think not upon it, that we may stand in awe, and walk in fear and humility, is it not a tempting of God? Let us learn therefore not to harden our selves in such wise as God should be forced to fall to this rigour, wherewith he doeth here threaten his people: namely, that he will make them grope as the blind in the dark, and that they shall have neither understanding in them nor discretion: that he will make them to fall in such a fear,§30 as they shall not know whether they be living creatures or no: nor perceive whether there be a God that will receive them to mercy, and whether they shall prevail in calling upon his name, or not. Let us nor tarry till such evil do come upon us. For it is a deep pit, out of the which very few can get forth. In deed God will some times bring his people to that point that they shall not know where they be, and they shall be so greatly afraid and so troubled §40therewith, that they shall become dull & blockish: this is well seen. But he lifteth them up again after that he hath brought them low. Howbeit for as much as this example is very rare, let us not tempt our God; but when he afflicteth us in our bodies, let us understand that he spareth us greatly, and that he mitigateth the rigour of his wrath, and let us be no more so impatient as we have bin wonted to be. Albeit that the grief be hard §50and bitter to us, yet let us confess: alas: but yet God hath not touched me in my soul. Let this come always in our remembrance, to the end that we acknowledging the goodness of our God in that he doeth forbear us: