A17698:3926
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.
And by the way Moses doth us to understand, that if the Jews be not pliable afore hand, it shall come to pass that afterward other men shall be taught to beware by their great destruction ⟨p. 1041⟩whether they will or no. And that is well worthy to be marked. Whensoever God reproveth us, we cover our sins, and although we have no great colour so to do, yet do we evermore take leaves to hide us, after the example of our father Adam.1 To be short, we be so shameless, that we will rather allege frivolous excuses, than yield to condemn our selves. God doeth threaten us, but we do make §10none account thereof; we offend notwithstanding, whereby we show our rebelliousness. If we be asked, Go too, do you perceive the hand of God? O say we, I wot not wherefore I am afflicted. Thus do men evermore go backward: and in stead of appeaching themselves, they fall to disputing and cavilling to escape as they may. To be short, we will never come willingly to the acknowledging of our sins. What doth God then, when he seeth us to be so untractable?§20 He teacheth others. Forasmuch as it is but labour lost to apply himself to us, & because we be as logs of wood, hardhearted and wilful in wickedness: the example of us is a good instruction to others, which come to read ye it is the vengeance of God, & so do acknowledge it in our persons: & in the mean while, we be shut out from all remedy: for we had not the power in time and place, to receive the correction that God sent us. Thus ye see what we have to note in this place, where Moses saith: that they will say: It is not a matter §30any whit dark nor any more to be doubted of, that they which be stubborn hearted against GOD and have used contention to make them selves innocent, may very well wry their mouths: but yet will GOD stir up tongues to discover their iniquities, and they must become a common proverb, and have their doings blazed abroad; as who should say, god hath punished them on this wise, because they forgot him. After he had delivered them by his incredible §40power, and wrought so many wonders for their safety, they laid all this under foot, & turned themselves unto strange gods. And hereby we be taught that when God giveth us yet means to return unto him, we must not draw back, leeing that we shall gain nothing thereby.