A17698:4101
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.
Wherefore is it then that God giveth this song to the people of §30Israel? It is because it should serve them for a Testimony. At what time? Even at such time as they should be afflicted to the uttermost, that they might be holden as it were on the torture, and be constrained to confess the faults and iniquities which they had committed. And how then? Could not the plagues which they endured, suffice to bring them to reason, and to cause them to turn again unto God, whom they had forsaken? Yes in deed, were it not that men be §40so hard hearted, that in seeing they perceive not a whit, and that their wits be as it were dulled and dead. We see by this then, that although our Lord chastise men, even with such extremity, as they must needs confess that it is he to whom they be to answer and to yield account, and that it is his hand that pursueth them, and that he is their enemy: yet they be so foolish that they settle themselves in their own imaginations, and although they know it, yet §50they be not throughly persuaded of it in their hearts: but let it escape them and by and by forget it, unless God do put to his word, and tell them. It is to me that you must have an eye: for I do summon you before my judgement seat. When I do thus scourge you, I set your faults before you, I do here make out your process for you. If God spake not when he striketh with his hand, the stripes would be unprofitable to us. Now we perceive the hardheartedness that is in §60us. For although it be here spoken of the children of Israel, yet doth the holy Ghost under the example of them, tell us what we be. Therefore let us learn to know our selves better, and consider that although it be needful for us to receive instruction concerning Gods punishments, least we should become unreformable: yet notwithstanding it would profit us nothing, unless we had the word of God, whereby he draweth us to repentance, and by the which he doeth us to understand, that the things which we suffer must not be imputed to hap hazard, but we must understand that they come from him. And thus must we resort to the holy scripture, so often as we be afflicted. For on the one side, when men are scourged they chafe upon the bridle, and become as doted, as if they were astonished with the stroke of a hammer; they think not of God.