A17698:4097
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.
The chief thing that God telleth us, to assure us in this present §60life, is this, that he hath his eye upon us, and that he is so mindful of our welfare, that nothing shall want us, because he is able to provide all things that be necessary for us; and therewithal is able also to defend us from all annoyance, insomuch that his eye is unto us a buckler, a fortress, and a shadow to shroud us under it. Likewise it is said of his good will in the fifth Psalm,1 that it shall be our shield. The thing then wherein the faithful ought to rest and rejoice: is that God looketh upon them with compassion that he never forgetteth them, that he guideth all their steps, ⟨p. 1091⟩and that he hath a fatherly care over them to remedy all their evils. And on the contrary side, the grievousest threat that God can utter is to turn his face away from us, and no more to vouchsafe to have care either of us, or of our life, but to forsake us. For then we are set open to Satan and all manner of misfortune. And where is then our defence? For we have no mean to resist, we see we be frail and wretched creatures, there is nothing in us. And therefore §10woe be to them of whom God will have no longer care; but forsaketh them as those that belong not unto him at all, ne be of his household. And that is the thing which he sayeth in this place, that when the people of Israel have left him, he will hide his face from them, and will be no more their father, as he had been afore time. Now this is so spoken unto the Jews, as it ought to serve us also for a warning at this day. Will we then have this sovereign and inestimable benefit,§20 namely, that God should guide us; that our life should be in his hand, and that he should take us into his keeping to uphold us? Then must we look that we call upon him, and as we profess his name, so must we also serve him in truth according to this saying of Saint Paul,2 that who soever calleth upon the name of the Lord, that is to say, whosoever protesteth to be of his people, must depart from all iniquity.3