A17698:3700
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 now by the way we warned, that although the plague be not yet come near us, we must not therefore fall asleep. For we do always measure God; threatenings, by our own conceiving of them, and by the things that offer themselves to our fight. When men §30speak of war, and do threaten us with the Turk, But how can he come at us say we? He is too far off. Again, can such a Prince invade us? Tush, he shall be letted by such a mean: the plague can not come that way, by reason of such a cause. He may be dealt withal by such a mean; it can not be. When we have such kind of worldly shifts to defend our selves withal, thereupon we despise GOD, not in word, but in deed, for we continue unreformable §40and froward, and fear not that the plague can come at us. Therefore sayeth God, that he will stir up strange people against us, even people of far Countries. When men doubt in least, then shall they wonder to see how GOD will come in upon them on that side which they never thought of, and bring them enemies to spoil them. Let us then mark by this text, that Gods scourges lye sometimes hidden, and break our upon a sudden,§50 so as men are taken tardy by them, according to this saying,1 that they be like to a woman that is child bearing. For a woman that is with child; is utterly abashed when her hour is come; even so fareth it with them that are puffed up with their iniquities, and delight in them: they forecast not that the hand of God is near them.2 It cometh upon them like a tempest; when they say, Peace and all is safe, then cometh their ruin and utter destruction.§60 Therefore whereas we be told of strange people, let us learn to look far before us when GOD doeth threaten us; for like a• faith must advance it self above the world to take hold of Gods promises, that it may rest altogether upon them: so likewise when GOD threateneth us, our faith must look further off than we can see with our eyes, and we mistrust the thing which we see not at all: like as we may perceive that Noah tarried not till the flood break out, and that GOD did unlock the Rain of heaven,