A17698:3793
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.
This is the very pleasure that is spoken of in this text. According whereunto it is said, that GOD will rejoice and be glad,1 when he hath punished the wicked, and maintained his majesty against them, for that they have despised him and set him at nought. Nevertheless,§50 it is likewise true that he sayeth by his Prophet Isaiah, that he doeth it unwillingly. Alas (sayeth he) must I needs revenge me of mine enemies? GOD crieth there alas, as if he were in sorrow and anguish for it. I must (sayeth he) take comfort in avenging me of mine enemies. Those whom he termeth his enemies, are the children whom he had adopted, and which boasted themselves to be his people. And how doeth he §60comfort himself in them? Even by giving them over, and by driving them away. But in the mean while, he showeth that it is against his will, when he must so beat men down with main strokes, howbeit that he can none otherwise do. Yet notwithstanding, in very deed God is able to tame the hearts of men without any great violence: for (as we have said) he is not subject to our passions. But hereby we be to consider how his intent is to declare, that our unreformable naughtiness is the cause why he is fain to pursue us after such manner as is spoken of here, and that he is fain to take pleasure in doing us harm▪ wherein the order of nature is after a sort quit• altered and changed: but all is through our own fault, and we our selves are to blame for it, and it is not for us to seek any other reason thereof than our own sin, which hath kindled his vengeance to the uttermost. Thus much concerning that sentence.
This is the verie pleasure that is spoken of in this texte. According whereunto it is saide, that GOD will reioyce and bee gladde,1 when hee hath punished the wicked, and maintained his maiestie against them, for that they haue despised him and set him at nought. Neuerthelesse,§50 it is likewise true that hee saieth by his Prophet Esay, that hee doeth it vnwillingly. Alas (saieth hee) must I needes reuenge mee of mine enimies? GOD crieth there alas, as if hee were in sorrowe and anguish for it. I must (saieth hee) take comfort in auenging mee of mine enemies. Those whom hee termeth his enemies, are the children whome hee had adopted, and which boasted themselues to bee his people. And howe doeth hee