A17698:3902
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 sentence answereth to the Text of Moses where he sayeth, Beware that none of you having heard the curses which be set down here, do• bless himself in his heart, and that he say not: God will easily forgive me: and thereupon foadeth himself with hope of ease, notwithstanding that GOD denounce war against him. Now therefore as soon as GOD summoneth us to his judgement, let us learn to enter into our selves, and let every one of us make his own indictment, and let us look aforehand a far off at the curses whereof he speaketh. Albeit that they do not appear at the first, yet let us behold them by faith, like as it is said, That Noah saw the flood aforehand when all was at rest,1 and when men were most drowned in their delights: for the world was fair and pleasant, and it seemed that all should go well. But Noah in the mean while stretched out his sight above a hundred years before him; even six score years aforehand did he behold that which God had spoken. And even so must we do. Let us not tarry till GOD smite upon us with main strokes: but as soon as we have offended him, let us by and by look into his law what our state and condition is. And forsomuch as we see there how God declareth that he will punish the despisers of his Majesty, and all such as strive against his word; threatening specially all adulterers and whoremongers, all drunkards and blasphemers, and condemning all extortion, deceit, perjury and envy: let us beware that none of us promise himself peace and rest, whilst he seeth that God exhorteth to repentance. For it must needs come to pass, (as he sayeth in another place,) that when they say,2 Peace and all is safe, then shall they be suddenly confounded. Certainly it is a monstrous matter and against nature, that men can think themselves blessed, when they hear that GOD doeth curse them. And hereby we see how froward we are, if GOD restrain us not: yea and we see how it is a common and an ordinary fault. For GODS threatenings be not secrete, they sound continually, and we have our ears beaten with them; and yet who is he that is moved at them? True it is that with our mouths we utter not the words that are set down here: but yet we never have any such obedience, neither are we ever so beaten down with our sins, as to be afraid of GODS threatenings: