A17698:4038
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 when he sayeth that God depriveth him of going into the land; he allegeth a matter not honourable to him self: but doeth call to remembrance the fault that he had committed. He doeth not here accuse God, neither fretteth he at the punishment whereof he speaketh; but he acknowledgeth his offence with meekness. Seeing that Moses, a man so excellent which was as it were an Angel amongst mortal creatures, was contented to testify his fault, and often times to rehearse that he was not worthy to enjoy the heritage which God had promised to Abraham, in so much that although he had delivered the people, and had done so many noble acts, & had published the Law, and was reputed governor of the Church of God even until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: yet ⟨p. 1074⟩notwithstanding even after all this, he was not ashamed to lay forth his own fault, and to declare that God would not admit him to the promised heritage: what ought we to do▪ So then whensoever God punisheth us, let us not seek vain shifts to cover our uncleanness: but let us rather be well contented, that the punishments which God hath sent us, may profit & serve for instruction to all our neighbours. He sayeth moreover, The Lord thy God will go before §10thee, and destroy all these people before thy face, and thou shalt do unto them, as thou didst unto Sehon & Og kings of Bashan & of the Amorites. Here Moses confirmeth the matter which we have touched, to wit, that although he be not present in person, when the people should enter into the land of Canaan, yet was God of right to be esteemed more than mortal men, so as the people ought not to be afraid though they saw not Moses any more, nor ask, where is he that hath led us? Be contented (saith he) to have the §20Lord to go with you. Hereby we be yet better warned to yield God his due honour, which is, to rest in him alone, although we be bereft of all means here beneath. In deed it is a thing to be desired, that we might ever be governed by such rulers as are led by the Spirit of God: for it is a privilege and favour, that cannot be sufficiently esteemed, and it is also a sign and token that he is amongest us:§30 Therefore it were greatly to be wished. Nevertheless, although we be deprived thereof, and that God taketh them away by death, whereby his blessing, to the outward show, is so much the lesser: