A17698:3828
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 consider whereat Moses doeth begin. He saith: The Lord hath wrought dreadful wonders before your eyes in the Land of Egypt, there were tentations to try you: you know what he did unto Pharaoh and to all his subjects: ye• notwithstanding▪ you have not considered any of all those things; you have had neither wit, nor ears, nor eyes, you have bin deaf and blind, senseless & beastly, and so ye see how all gods miracles have nothing availed you, because of your dullness. Justly hath Moses begun here with upbraiding, and justly doth he blame the people for that they had not bin more attentive to understand and to mark the testimonies that God gave them: yea verily. Whereunto tendeth that, but unto this which he addeth for a conclusion, My will was that you should have known that I am the everlasting your God? Lo how God declared that his intent was to reform his people, as if he should have said, hold ye to me: know ye that seeing I have taken the charge of you, your life shall be happy, & I will have care of you: therefore honour me, put all your trust in me, settle your affection upon me, & glorify me in all your life. That was gods purpose, when he showed his wonderful power in delivering the people of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt. Seeing then that all this profited them not, must it not needs be that they were too too froward, in burying so many testimonies of Gods presence, specially seeing it was for their welfare and felicity to have yielded themselves in subjection unto God? Seeing then that they were so wildheaded, and ⟨p. 1015⟩would not by any mean be reclaimed. it is a sign of too devilish malice. It is all one as if Moses should say thus: Look to your selves: For there is no excuse why you should be thus deaf, blind, and senseless. Whereas God hath wrought so mightily in the land of Egypt for your deliverance, it was to the end that you should be stablished in the trust of his goodness and power, and be stayed upon the mighty strength which he showed unto you in so excellent manner:§10 But you have done no such thing: and therefore ye be more than guilty, because nothing hath hindered you to know your God, which hath thus showed himself unto you, but your own unthankfulness in refusing all manner of understanding.