A17698:4043
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.
They that think themselves to be most faithful, have never tasted what faith is: according as we see a great many fools, which speak of war, and think to devour all at one bit, whereas in deed they neither know nor have seen any thing. Even so is it with them that have a speculative faith: they make themselves the ablest folk in the world, they boast themselves to be as faithful as any can be found: but they that know what faith is, do understand that there is nothing more hard, than for us to stay ourselves upon God; and in that behalf we must be fain to imprison our senses, and to take the bit in our mouth (as they say) and to enforce our selves; yea and that God also on his side do work in that behalf, as we do see that he doeth. For it is no superfluous talk, when he setteth his promises before us, and putteth us so often in mind of them. For it is a token that they bear no great sway with us, or rather that they enter not into our hearts to settle there, as were meet they should. Thus ye see what Moses meant, in saying, That the Lord will never forsake his people.
They that thinke themselues to bee most faithfull, haue neuer tasted what faith is: according as we see a great manie fooles, which speake of warre, and thinke to deuour all at one bitte, whereas in deede they neither knowe nor haue seene any thing. Euen so is it with thē that haue a speculatiue faith: they make themselues ye ablest folk in the world, they boast themselues to be as faithfull as any can be founde: but they that knowe what faith is, doe vnderstande that there is nothing more harde, than for vs to stay ourselues vppon God; and in that behalfe wee must bee faine to imprison our senses, and to take the bit in our mouth (as they say) and to enforce our selues; yea and that God also on his side doe worke in that behalfe, as we doe see that he doeth. For it is no superfluous talke, when hee setteth his promises before vs, and putteth vs so often in minde of them. For it is a token that they beare no great sway with vs, or rather that they enter not into our hearts to settle there, as were meete they shoulde. Thus yee see what Moses meant, in saying, That the Lorde will neuer forsake his people.