A17698:3763
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.
for a spear of a bramble (as they say) is enough to make us believe that we be invincible. What [say we?] Is it possible that they should prevail against us? All this is nothing: no not worth the pill of an Onion, as they say: yet will we needs strain §10our wits to give it price and the glory. Nay contrariwise, let us acknowledge our debility and weakness, that we may repair unto God, and let nothing hinder us from yielding our selves wholly unto him and unto his protection: let us not deceive our selves with such vain confidence, as the Jews had in their high walls. Now heerewithall he showeth also that all that ever we can devise for our strength and safeguard, can do nothing against his power:§20 but that we shall continue besieged, until we be altogether wasted. Yea and we may gather by this Text, that it were much better for us to be delivered at the first into the hands of our enemies, than to have means to resist, whereby we may be made to languish in such wise as we may not dye a simple death [out of hand]: for the poor people that be abroad in the fields, are spoiled at the first, and so are dispatched of it. Surely it is a piteous case, to behold §30their throats cut and all set on fire: but yet for all that, by that means they are delivered from their miseries, so as they pine not away in them. But as for them that are in strong Townes, they must be fain to abide a long siege, they must languish and pine away by piecemeal, not for a month or two, but even until they can hold out no more: and that is as much as if they should pass a hundred deaths. Thus doth our Lord revenge himself of them §40that think themselves to be dispatched, when God doth not root them out at the first. No, sayeth he, bethink your selves whether of these fruits do speed best; they that are brought to the market in their prime, and eaten out of hand; or they that are kept for a time, and in the end do rot? It were better then for you to be overcome and vanquished by your enemies at the first. Let us therefore consider well, that when we have wherewith to defend §50us to the worldeward, where it should profit us, it shall turn to our double confusion if we trust therein: for we must groan a great while under the burden, and be wasted by little and little.