A17698:389
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 come to that which Moses addeth. He sayeth That Sehon King of Hesebon would not give the children of Israel leave to pass. And why? For the Lord (sayeth he) had hardened his spirit, and made his heart stubborn. I have told you already, that although God foresee that the message of peace shall not prevail: yet he ceaseth not to send it. But here Moses expresseth yet a further matter: that God hardeneth mens hearts. And §60in the end he addeth moreover, that he doeth it of purpose to overthrow them and destroy them, which is much more. Now this is very strange gear at the first sight. And that is the cause why men have gone about to alter these texts: but in so doing they have marred them, for it is all one when they would set such a gloss as this upon it, that Gods hardening of Sehon's heart, was no more but his promising that he should become hard hearted, and that he letted not the hardness and stubbornness of his hart, that is to say, he did let Sehon alone when he showed himself stubborn. These are too feeble shifts. For when as the scripture saith expressly that GOD hardened: it fathereth the very work it self upon him. Again, we see how it sayeth, Thou Lord hast done it: and that in mo places than only in this. Think we that the holy Ghost wanted words wherewith to utter his meaning, when he said, I will harden Pharaoh's heart,1 and behold, God hath hardened him? And again when he sayeth in the Psalm that the Lord turned & converted their hearts unto stubbornness,2 when they rose up so against Israel? If men should flee always to this gloss, God sayeth that he will harden, that is to say, he will not hinder or impeach the hardening: to what purpose were that? We see it is a fond kind of dealing, and the word Turn showeth it well. Behold, God turneth the heart. Whereas mens hearts were pliable and disposed to courtesy, God turneth them and maketh them to be inflamed with hatred, so as they be the first that begin the war. And what meaneth that? So then unless we mean to dally and mock with the holy scripture, we must not seek such shifts, but rather consider after what sort it is that God hardeneth mens hearts: and yet notwithstanding is not guilty of the hardness that is in men, nor can or ought to be charged with the evil. We must come to that point.