A17698:3759
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.
Now Moses repeateth that which hath been touched heretofore: namely, That God will bring us enemies from a far Country, and that they shall fly as Eagles, to the intent we should not think that GOD needeth to make any preparation long aforehand. As if a man should threaten us: we would look whether he had a sword in his hand, and whether he be in readiness to execute that which he hath said. But if God do but whistle (as he often speaketh by his Prophets,) by and by he hath his men of war in readiness;1 he needeth not to make musters, or to enrol them, or to sound the drum: he needeth none of all this: only at his whistle (for he useth that similitude;) all the whole earth must needs be moved. Therefore let us not look whether things be in a readiness, nor whether any hurt or harm be done us. Let us not look whether any worldly means be prepared thereunto: but ⟨p. 996⟩let us understand that ere we can conceive what evil may happen unto us, we shall be presently overthrown. And wherefore? Because it is God that speaketh, which maketh men to fly as birds, even from the one end of the earth to the other. There is neither sea nor mountains able to save us from the experience of that which we never believed. Howbeit God hath so disposed things, yea & even amongst the heathen is oftentimes seen incredible speediness, when God is disposed §10to chastise the greatest part of the world: insomuch that some one man hath risen with a small number of people, to chastise an infinite multitude that did set themselves against him: and that not for one time only, but twice or thrice one after another, with taking of Townes & Fortresses, which seemed to be so well appointed, yea and strong by natural situation, that they could not be approached unto, & yet have they bin sacked as if God had meant to renew a great part of the world.§20 It hath bin in likewise seen, that a people without renounce or estimation, have risen and made the most mighty to tremble. In this doing God giveth examples of that which is written here: to wit, that he can surely bring our enemies upon the sudden, and that they shall make such dispatch, as if they came swifter against us than by post: and that when we suppose to have some respite, by truce for one month, for one year or for all our lifetime, we shall be suddenly surprised