A17698:4107
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.
It was meet that the Jews after this warning peal, should have acknowledged that they came not into the land of Canaan, otherwise than §40by the leading of God, and that the same land was given them in possession because of the Promise made to their father Abraham. Moreover they saw, how God held them there. It is good reason then that they should have concluded, that (seeing they were deprived of so great a benefit, and yet God is unchangeable & altereth not his purpose) the evil came of themselves, in that they suffered not God to continue his mercy toward them, but did refuse it, & shut the gate §50against him. Indeed we have not at this day a land of Canaan; we have not that which the Jews had, to be gathered into one certain Country. But what? We be too blind, if we understand not that what Country soever God hath given us to live in, yet it is he that doth harbour us. And although we had neither Testimony nor Token of his goodness as concerning this present life: yet there is a matter which passeth all this; which is, That he hath drawn us out of the darkness of §60damnation wherein we were plunged: and hath brought us to the heritage of salvation. For through hope,1 we be already set above with Jesus Christ; as S. Paul speaketh in the Epistle to the Ephes. Yet nevertheless besides this, God of his exceeding great goodness, faileth not to give us many mo testimonies of his fatherly love: for who else nourisheth and feedeth us in this world? Howe many ways do we daily perceive that he hath his hand stretched out, yea or rather his wings, (as he saith in the Song) as it were to brood us here like little chickens?2 We see it with our eyes. Seeing then that we have so much experience of the goodness of God; and again that on the other side, he by his scourging of us doeth train us to the understanding of our sins, and thereupon doeth offer us his word wherein to behold the articles that are laid against us: must we not needs be too hard hearted and brutish, if we be not moved to come unto him with true repentance? So then, let us learn to exercise our selves better in the remembrance of Gods benefits, & to acknowledge them accordingly, as he hath bound us unto him: and on the other side to consider, that if he at any time fail us, the same must needs come of our unthankfulness.