A17698:4108
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.
For as for him, he will continually proceed more and more to do us good, unless we hinder him, and turn away the course of his goodness, as if a man should stay the running of a River. For the goodness of God is a fountain that never dryeth; it is certain that he never ceaseth to do us good. Doeth he then scourge us? Our sins must needs be the cause thereof, because we have provoked his wrath. After that manner must we consider as well of Gods benefits, as of the afflictions that he sendeth us, specially when we be warned by his word, as the way is here showed us.
For as for him, he will continually proceede more and more to doe vs good, vnlesse we hinder him, and turne away the course of his goodnesse, as if a man should stay the running of a Riuer. For the goodnesse of God is a fountaine that neuer dryeth; it is certaine that he neuer ceasseth to doe vs good. Doeth he then scourge vs? Our sinnes must needes be the cause thereof, bycause we haue prouoked his wrath. After that manner must wee consider as well of Gods benefites, as of the afflictions that he sendeth vs, specially when wee bee warned by his word, as the way is here shewed vs.
And whereas he sayeth, That the people after that they be filled and fed: It serveth to aggravate their unthankfulness the more. For if the people of Israel had bin afflicted, and that thereupon they had fallen away, [there had bin some colour:] as oftentimes men being tempted do fall away from GOD because they be at their wits end. And albeit that the same be no sufficient excuse, yet may it seem that the fault is so much the less. As for example, when a man hath meanly served God, and it hath not appeared that he hath dealt amiss, but rather that he had a good zeal and affection: if God thereupon do punish him, and he be so vexed that he wotteth not where to become; in so much that he do murmur, chafe, and blaspheme God, or is induced to do evil; men will say, Well, this man, as long as GOD dealt gently with him, did show himself to be in good order: but now see what temptations do. But when a man is blessed of GOD, and doeth prosper by all means, and it is Gods pleasure to win him by gentleness and goodness: if thereupon he become a rebel, and despise God, and give over himself to all manner of looseness, (as some are seen to do, or rather as the common manner is, that as soon as GOD giveth men that which they do long for and desire, they become drunken, and do lose both wit and reason;) if a man [say I] do then overshoot himself after that fashion when GOD dealeth with him so graciously: is not his sin so much the more heinous? Yes certainly.