A17698:3767
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 let us mark further, that when we forget our God, we must also forget all the course of nature, and he must needs bereave us of our wits:1 for it is he on whom all fatherhood dependeth, he is the wellspring thereof. We should not know what the duty of the parents is toward §20their children, nor what reverence children do owe to their parents and superiors, unless God did bear the sovereignty. If we refer not all unto him, he will make us to become blockish, so as we shall not understand what this fatherly affection toward our children should mean. Thus much for one point.
Now let vs marke further, that when we forget our God, wee must also forget all the course of nature, and he must needes bereaue vs of our wittes:1 for it is hee on whom all fatherhood dependeth, he is the welspring thereof. We should not knowe what the duetie of the parents is towarde §20their children, nor what reuerence children doe owe to their parentes and superiors, vnlesse God did beare the souereintie. If we referre not all vnto him, he wil make vs to become blockish, so as wee shall not vnderstand what this fatherly affectiō toward our children should meane. Thus much for one poynt.
But by the way we have to note, that the men which did so devour their own children, were not so blockish but that they were pinched §30with terrible heartbitings, and vexed with such furious fearfulness, as made them even to abhor that which they did. True it is that they were carried away by force, and had no reason in them; but yet for all that they had certain secret stings and prickings inwardly, and God held them as it were upon the rack or torture, as if he should have said unto them, What wilt thou do; thou wretched creature? It had bin better for thee to have bin borne afore thy time,