A17698:3746
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.
yet must this saying needs be verified, and when we have kicked and spurned never so much, yet shall we at the last be convicted of this maliciousness, that we could not find in our hearts to suffer GOD to deal• gently with us, nor have served him joyfully and with a merry heart. Therefore let us not wonder though he do handle us as we deserve, when we be so rebellious against him. For when he §60seeth that we kick against him, he must needs break us, and deal with us after such a fashion as we may understand that he is our master: not that they which be punished, do serve GOD: but for that they understand that he hath the mastery over them, when the punishments come so far that they are become signs and wonders. When GOD appeareth unto them as it were in a visible manner from heaven; then do they perceive, Alas I cannot flee nor scape the hand of GOD. Then do they understand that he hath the Lordship over them, not that they willingly yield themselves thereunto, but that they lye languishing and astonished therein, as men locked up in prison. The thing then which we have to remember, is that sith we could not be contented, that God should handle us gently by bowing under his hand, that he might guide us, turn us and return us which way he listed: we must be forced by trouble and sorrow, to understand that he hath full sovereignty over us, and that his utter breaking and overthrowing of us, is because we could not abide to be governed by his hand, when he was ready to guide us. This is the matter that we have to note in the second place.
yet must this saying needes bee verified, and when we haue kicked and spurned neuer so much, yet shall wee at the last bee conuicted of this maliciousnesse, that we could not finde in our heartes to suffer GOD to deal• gently with vs, ne haue serued him ioyfully and with a merrie heart. Therefore let vs not woonder though hee doe handle vs as wee deserue, when wee bee so rebellious against him. For when hee §60seeth that wee kicke against him, hee must needes breake vs, and deale with vs after such a fashion as wee may vnderstande that hee is our maister: not that they which bee punished, doe serue GOD: but for that they vnderstand that hee hath the maisterie ouer them, when the punishmentes come so farre that they are become signes and wonders. When GOD appeareth vnto them as it were in a visible manner from heauen; then doe they perceiue, Alas I cannot flee nor scape the hande of GOD. Then doe they vnderstande that hee hath the Lordship ouer them, not that they willingly yeeld themselues thereunto, but that they lye languishing and astonished therein, as men locked vp in prison. The thing then which wee haue to remember, is that sith wee coulde not bee contented, that God should handle vs gently by bowing vnder his hand, that he might guide vs, turne vs and returne vs which way he listed: wee must bee forced by trouble and sorrowe, to vnderstand that he hath full souerainty ouer vs, and that his vtter breaking and ouerthrowing of vs, is bycause wee could not abide to bee gouerned by his hande, when hee was ready to guide vs. This is the matter that we haue to note in the second place.