A17698:3725
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.
In the end he returneth to the matter which we saw heretofore. All these curses shall come upon thee, they shall seize upon thee, & thou shalt be caught §50and besieged by them on all sides, until that God hath quite consumed thee: even because thou hast not hearkened to his voice, to obey his statutes and commandments, which he hath given thee. I have told you herebefore how that Moses hath oftentimes showed to the Jews, that no evil or adversity came upon them but by the hand of God. But it behooveth us also to know the cause. True it is that sometime God doth visit us, and we cannot perceive the cause thereof: for he doeth it §60not for our sins, not for that he might not do it, but for that he spareth us. Yet is this always to be looked unto, that when we sustain any afflictions, we must think on our sins, & enter into examination of them to condemn our selves before God: yea & we must not tarry so long: but we must benefit our selves by all manner of calamities which we see throughout the world, knowing that God punisheth mens sins by such means: and thereupon bridling our selves from the like. The matter then whereunto Moses doth now return, is, that having showed us how it is the Lord that withdraweth all manner of blessings from us, it is he that curseth our possessions, and the fruits of the earth, it is he that sendeth vermin, storms and tempests, to destroy all: it is he that giveth power to our enemies: he showeth wherefore all this is done: to wit, because we have rebelled against him, because we have despised his law. That is the very cause why these plagues of vengeance do so pursue us. Now then, let us bear in mind the doctrine which hath been sufficiently set forth hereabove: which is, that when God doeth afflict us, we must shut our mouths from replying or entering into plea: for we shall win nothing by standing in contention with him. Nay rather we must condemn our selves, confessing that he dealeth justly. Although it be his will to prove our patience, and to try us to the uttermost; yet notwithstanding we must yield ourselves as guilty before him, & understand that our sins deserve to be thus roughly handled at his hands. Here is wherewith to cause all the blasphemies, murmurings and con plaints to cease which are daily heard in the world.
In the end he returneth to the matter which we saw heretofore. All these curses shal come vppon thee, they shal sease vpon thee, & thou shalt be caught §50