A17698:3721
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.
Thus much concerning that point. Whereof because §30I have treated more at large heretofore, it sufficeth as now to touch it in one word.
Thus much concerning that poynt. Whereof because §30I haue treated more at large heretofore, it sufficeth as nowe to touch it in one word.
Now furthermore let us mark, that whereas God speaketh here of Locusts, worms, Caterpillars, & other beasts, & whereas he speaketh of blasting & of burning which cometh thereof, he showeth that he hath men of war of a strange sort, when he vouchsafeth not to do men good: & this also serveth to pull down the pride of men. For if we be spoiled by the enemies: very well (will §40men say) this was done by violence and plain force. As for example when war is, the whole country is spoiled, the richest folk become beggars: and all this is wited upon the war, man is not blamed for it. But when it cometh to pass by other accidents, so as men wot not by what mean their substance is wasted, though they see it melt away before their eyes, one year by hail, an other year by frost, and one while one way & another while an other, so as all §50things consume betwixt their hands; God by this mean maketh it more manifest unto men, that he meaneth to confound them utterly. And indeed if we mark the course that he kept with the Egyptians,1 we shall perceive it much better. For we discern Gods judgments better in other men than in our selves. If God had stirred up a great army against the Egyptians, in stead of the lice and vermin: they would still have continued in their pride and presumption:§60 and albeit that they had been a hundred times discomfited, yet would they not have failed to have been stiffenecked still. When they were persecuted with lice, and that there were such Soldiers in Egypt; they should have been ashamed. Therefore let us well note, that God by sending men such chastisements as be set down here doth warn them to think on their frailty. If Herod had been slain with a thunder bolt from heaven; it had not been so fit a punishment for the blasphemy which he committed in suffering himself to be called a God,