A17698:3791
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.
After that Moses hath thus spoken, he addeth: That like as God had taken pleasure in doing good to the Jews, even so he would take pleasure in persecuting them, until he had consumed them and utterly rooted them out. Here Moses doeth first of all show what affection GOD beareth towards these whom he hath chosen out for himself, and meaneth to take for his flock. It is certain that God is not subject to any humane passions: yet can not he sufficiently manifest either the goodness or the love that he hath towards us, but by transfiguring himself, as if he were a mortal man, saying that he would take pleasure in doing us good. Let us understand therefore that God holdeth us so deer as if a father should should delight and rejoice to do good to his ⟨p. 1005⟩children. When he seeth them according to his mind, and to do him honour, and to be obedient unto him: then his feeding of them, and his clothing of them, is a comfort to him, and it doeth him good to see them in their bravery; for that is the very felicity of a father. GOD likeneth himself to mortal men, and sayeth that he will delight to do us good. And therefore we cannot magnify the inestimable goodness of our God too much, seeing §10he stoopeth so low as to tell us, that his whole delight is in making us to enjoy his benefits, and in demeaning himself in such wise towards us, as we may have cause to praise him, and finally, in yielding to all our desires. But what? We cannot away with it: we are not able to apprehend that, for we be not able to consider it.
After that Moses hath thus spoken, he addeth: That like as God had taken pleasure in dooing good to the Iewes, euen so he woulde take pleasure in persecuting them, vntill he had consumed them and vtterly rooted them out. Heere Moses doeth first of all shewe what affection GOD beareth towardes these whome hee hath chosen out for himselfe, and meaneth to take for his flock. It is certaine that God is not subiect to any humane passions: yet can not he sufficiently manifest either the goodnesse or the loue that he hath towards vs, but by transfiguring himself, as if he were a mortall man, saying that he woulde take pleasure in doing vs good. Let vs vnderstand therefore that God holdeth vs so deere as if a father shoulde shoulde delight and reioyce to doe good to his ⟨p. 1005⟩