A17698:4077
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.
GOD hath such a care of mans welfare, that he delayeth not the remedying of a mischief till the mischief be come: but preventeth if aforehand, as we have here a fair example thereof. He tarried not till the people were turned away after idols; but forasmuch as he knew well that it would so come to pass, he vouchsafed to warn them of it, & made an assay to see whether §10any preservative medicine might hold it from breaking out. God therefore ordained this song to the intent that the people should daily have in their mouth a testimony against themselves, & that they should by that means be either restrained, if it were possible; or else be left utterly with out excuse. And here we see first of all that God did not choose this people for that they were more worthy or more righteous than other nations of the earth. For proof whereof, he knew very well §20that they would be always inclined to evil, and not cease to shrink away, but become hardhearted in rebelling against him: & yet for all that, he forbore not to deliver them out of the land of Egypt, & to pour out all the treasures of his infinite goodness & mercy upon them in doing them good. We have then here a certain proof, that when God did choose the people of Israel, he had no respect to any worthiness or merits that were in them: but rather meant to glorify his §30own free mercy, in showing, that although men be never so unworthy to be received to mercy, yet doth he not therefore cease to show himself a father towards them. But herewithal we see also (as I have already said) that god ordaineth such remedies as he knoweth to be convenient to bring them back into the right way, & delayeth not the relieving of them till they have done & are fallen down: but provideth all the helps aforehand which he knoweth to be meet for the §40leading & guiding of them, to the intent they should not swerve nor start out of the way.
GOD hath such a care of mans welfare, that hee delayeth not the remedying of a mischiefe til the mischiefe be come: but preuenteth if aforehand, as we haue here a faire exāple thereof. He tarried not til the people were turned away after idols; but forasmuch as he knewe well yt it would so come to passe, hee vouchesafed to warn them of it, & made an assay to see whether §10