A17698:4024
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.
To be short, whensoever we have received any favour at Gods hand, we be exhorted to use it in such wise, as the same §40may be an occasion unto us to serve him, so as we conceive courage to yield over our selves to his obedience, for least we be bereft thereof again either early or late, for playing the wild beasts & for dealing stubbornly after that God hath made us fat,1 according as we shall see in the song of Moses. Moses having spoken so, useth a greater vehemency, saying: This day I call heaven and earth to witness, that I have set before thee life and death, blessing and cursing. The same §50in effect was spoken afore, but (as I told you at a glance) Moses meant to express yet more, to the intent that the people should understand that he spake in good earnest, and that although their hearts were of stone, yet ought this to soften them. And let us mark first of all, that if the Jews were thus hard & slow, yea and rank rebels too; we be no better than they. For it is not in respect of them only that God saith he will change mens stony hearts; it is a general §60promise.2 He showeth that of nature men be such, namely, altogether rebellious, & that they will by no means be ruled. And therefore Moses is fain to enlarge his speech, and to have recourse to heaven and earth. Hereby we have matter first of all to prick us forward. In deed men suppose that they be able fellows to come unto God: but were there such forwardness in us as we surmise: it were enough for God to beckon to us with the finger, and to say, Come. But now when he is fain to cry out, and to use roughness, and to handle us sharply, yea, and (as ye would say) to conjure us; it is a token that he perceiveth well, that without this manner of dealing, he could not draw us to him; but that we would still draw backward from him. Therefore let us learn to condemn our selves: and moreover when we hear that GOD doeth provoke us more roughly than we would, we may not for all that be nice, nor grieved thereat. In deed it is meet for us to be tender hearted one way, that is to say, that we be not like Stithies or Anvils, which beat back the strokes of the hammer: but yet let us take heed, that we repine not at the vehemency which GOD useth towards us; knowing that the same is necessary for us.