A17698:4147
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.
truly it ought to induce us to humility. And when we once know our unsufficiency, we must also be provoked thereby to pray God to supply our want. Besides this let us also consider what the world is. For although God had given us more grace than we have: yet is the world so froward, that the doctrine of God can have no entrance at all. For it belongeth alonely to God to alter mens hearts, that is to say, to soften them, that his doctrine may drop into them and become like a moistening shower watering the meadows, whereas it dryeth away upon stones and Rocks. Seeing it is so, let us learn to call upon God better than we have done, forasmuch as our labour were unavailable without him.
truly it ought to induce vs to humilitie. And when wee once know our vnsufficiency, we must also bee prouoked thereby to pray God to supply our want. Besides this let vs also consider what ye world is. For although God had giuen vs more grace than we haue: yet is the worlde so frowarde, that the doctrine of God can haue no entrance at all. For it belongeth alonely to God to alter mens hearts, that is to say, to soften them, that his doctrine may drop into them and become like a moistening shower watring the medowes, whereas it dryeth away vpon stones and Rocks. Seeing it is so, let vs learne to call vpon God better than we haue done, forasmuch as our labor were vnauailable without him.
And herewithall we be all warned in general, after what sort we should receive Gods doctrine, that is to wit, as a rain. Were a piece of land never so well husbanded and never so well seeded, yet if it wanted moistening from heaven, to what purpose were it? Should not all the pain that is taken about it be unavailable? Even so is it with us: god must water us daily with his word, or else he shall draw no nourishment out of us, we will bring forth no fruit. Sith we know this, we ought to be more diligent in hearing Gods word than we be. The earth openeth her mouth in the drought of summer, so as it chinketh if it want rain: and (as we have seen heretofore) the heaven must be fain to hearken to the earth,1