A17698:3781
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 consequently he saith, That God will cause the plagues of Egypt to turn upon the Jews. We understand that God did so afflict the Egyptians, as that they were a terror unto his own people, insomuch that the Jews themselves were astonished thereat, notwithstanding that they were exempted from the evil. When the Egyptians were oppressed to the uttermost, thereby the Jews understood that God spared them, and that he held them in his protection, because he smote their enemies, and in the mean space did keep them in peace and rest. And this we see chiefly in his killing of all the first borne of Egypt: For GOD had commanded, that the door posts of the ⟨p. 1002⟩houses should be marked with the blood of the Paschal Lamb.1 There God gave a singular testimony unto the Jews that he would spare them; and during that while he turned his wrath and vengeance against their enemies. But now he saith here clean contrary, That God will cause those very plagues to return back. For the word that Moses useth doth import as much as if he should say, Thy fathers saw how God turned his wrath against the Egyptians, but now §10they must return back again upon thee, because thou makest none account to honour and serve him, which hath loved thee so much, and to whom thou art so greatly bound. By this saying we be admonished, that when God hath forborne us for a time, and moreover for the love that he beareth towards us, hath punished our enemies, and showed himself a contrary party against them for to maintain us: we must not therefore flatter our selves, but rather be §20more diligent to walk in his fear. For when we will not acknowledge such grace, but rather abuse it quite contrary: it is good reason that our Lord should cause the things to return back upon us, which he had sent upon our enemies, thereby to show us that he held us in his defence and safeguard. It is said that the people of God shall be as a fire kindled to consume all the wicked and unbelievers. And God will show the same in very deed. But if we will §30needs kindle his wrath through our sins and transgressions: then the fire that should have bin upon the unfaithful, must fall back upon our selves, and we must perish therewith.