A17698:3742
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.
What do ye, ye wretched people? Yet notwithstanding we see that while others sported them, he wept and wailed: and not contented with that, said; Who can turn my head into tears,1 so as my brain may be as a fountain gushing out continually, that I may bewail the sins and calamities of my people? See how the holy Prophet, (after that he had laboured §10in the service of God, and fought against all the wicked, and made war against all manner of iniquity and stubbornness:) is fain to be led away captive aswell as the rest, and to be put to reproach, not of being carried to Babylon, for that had been the best that could have bin wished at that time: but God gave him not the favour to be brought thither, but he was fain to be harried into Egypt:2 yet had he said, Cursed be they that go into Egypt: go ye into Babylon §20and serve the king of Babylon; be quiet and obedient there,3 and bear patiently this punishment of God, and in the end he will take pity on you. The holy Prophet had not the same liberty. So then we see, that when calamities come for the general corruption of all men, the good are wrapped up amongst the evil. And why is that? Because it is not almost possible to walk amongst such infections, and not to be somewhat spotted therewith. Albeit that Jeremiah §30resisted the evil as much as he could: yet savoured he of the public corruptions of the people, and therefore behoved him to be punished with the rest; howbeit God did not execute such vengeance upon him, as he did upon the despisers of his law, no not by a great deal. For Jeremiah had always a good testimony, that God did guide him; and when he was in Egypt, he was by a special privilege free from the curse that he had pronounced upon all them that §40would go into Egypt: for they drew him thither by force. Ye see therefore how God wrappeth up his people amongst the rebels, but yet he saveth them after a marvellous manner, which giveth them continual cause of comfort in him. As much is to be said of Daniel. Daniel is set forth unto us as a mirror of integrity. Ezekiel speaking of him, putteth him for the third of the most holy that could be chosen;