A17698:4106
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.
Hereupon let us mark that by making comparison of the word of GOD with the things which are befallen unto us, and which we have felt by experience; we ought to be wakened, or else we be too brutish. As for example, whereas the Scripture telleth us that God bestoweth his richesse upon men, of purpose to bring them back unto him by his gentleness, and fatherly goodness; and also that he continueth to do them good, of purpose to draw them to repentance, when he seeth them go astray: although we had no experience thereof, yet is it ⟨p. 1094⟩certain that the holy Scripture ought to suffice us. But if we look into our own state, and upon the things whereof God hath given us experience; and consider how many ways he hath showed himself liberal toward us, so as his goodness is throughly known unto us, and we be resolved that it is his hand that hath fed us: surely that beholding of so many benefits which God hath bestowed upon us, ought to make us to proceed yet farther, & to consider that although §10we have offended him, and bin wicked and unthankful; yet is he not weary to do us good: but doth rather strive against our lewdness, & overcome it with his goodness. When we think upon these things, then hath the scripture a good testimony of our experience, and then must we needs be so much the more guilty. That is the thing which Moses meant in this text. For having told the Jews that this Song should serve for a testimony to stop their mouths so as they should not have §20any thing to reply against GOD, he saith: for proof hereof, I will bring them into the land which I promised unto their fathers, and there they shall be fed and fatted. For seeing that even after they have tasted my goodness so great towards them, they will needs turn away from me, and follow after strange gods: is it not enough to bewray their filthiness unto all the world? Must not all creatures be witnesses thereto? Shall not my word them have good authority to say, that they be too §30lewd a people, & a people that are not worthy, that I should ever have given them one morsel of bread to eat, & much less that I should have adopted and chosen them from among all the nations of the world,1 to be a holy people, and a Royal priesthood? Now we perceive the meaning of Moses. It remaineth that we apply it to our use.