A17698:404
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.
But when as their enemies were driven like chaff with the wind, when they that we carst both strong and stout were dismayed, so as they had no more hart than women, but scattered away at the first shock, and became so cowardly, as they might smite upon them at their pleasure, so as the people were even weary of slaying them that were like enough to have eaten them up: What is to be said of it, but that God delivered the enemies of his people, that is to say, that he brought them thither as it were of purpose to take vengeance of them? Ye see then that the thing which is imported by this manner of Moseses speech, is the amplifying of Gods grace, to the end that it might be the better known of the children of Israel.
But when as their enemies were driuen lyke chaffe with the winde, when they that we carst both strong and stout were dismayed, so as they had no more hart than women, but scattered away at the first shocke, and became so cowardly, as they might smite vppon them at their pleasure, so as the people were euen weary of sleaing them that were lyke enough to haue eaten them vp: What is to be sayd of it, but that God deliuered the enemies of his people, that is to say, that hee brought them thither as it were of purpose to take vengeance of them? Yee see then that the thing which is imported by this maner of Moseses speach, is the amplifying of Gods grace, to the ende that it might bee the better knowen of the children of Israel.
And whereas it is said, that all were put to the sword, even little children and all: It might at the first blush seem a point of great cruelty, that the children of Israel spared not even the little babes. And what an outrage was that? For what though the king and the men had bin so froward as to deny them passage? Ought the women therefore to have borne the smart of it, and their little babes too? We see and are warned hereby, that we must not deem of Gods judgements after our own fancy. For if we will needs run a head when God telleth us that he hath disposed a matter, and that we will needs shoot forth our bolt at every turn: we take upon us the office of GOD. For it is his right to judge of us, and not ours to judge of him. And what