A17698:3809
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.
that is to lift up our eyes to heaven, knowing that God hath his hand stretched forth, to uphold them that return unto him. Where mention is made of a sorrowful mind; let us understand that it is the proper office of GOD to set our hearts at liberty, to the end that no temptation may utterly vanquish and overwhelm us. And this shall be treated of yet more fully.
that is to lift vp our eyes to heauen, knowing that God hath his hande streatched foorth, to vpholde them that returne vnto him. Where mention is made of a sorrowfull minde; let vs vnderstande that it is the proper office of GOD to set our heartes at libertie, to the end that no temptation may vtterly vanquish and ouerwhelme vs. And this shalbe treated of yet more fully.
Let us come to that which Moses addeth; Namely, that in the morning they shall say▪ What is he that will make me see the night: and at evening, how shall we attain to the morning? For thy life (sayeth he) shall be hanging before thee, as at a thread. Here we see yet better that which hath been said afore. For what is the cause that men be thus in a continual fear, but that they cannot commend their life into the hand of GOD? In very deed and to speak properly, the lives of us all are evermore, as it were hanging at a Thread, but yet the despisers of God do most peculiarly find it so; and well worthy, for that they have warred against ⟨p. 1010⟩him that should have set them in rest and safety. Their life is as it were hanging by a thread, because that in stead of life there is evermore this fear of death in their hearts, and reason good. For what is the life of man? A smoke that passeth and vanisheth away. And moreover let us see how many deaths beset us on all sides. So then as long as we remain in our natural state, without having respect to GOD, our life is always, as it were §10hanging at a Thread. Yea surely. Though we be never touched outwardly, how many diseases bear we in us? A man needs not to go out of himself, nor to seek far, to learn to how many miseries and wretchedness he is subject: for even in his own self he shall forthwith find an infinite number of deaths. Seeing then that it is so, let us know, that until we have learned to rest us in the providence of God, our life must of necessity