A17698:4163
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.
Now it is said here, They marred themselves towards him. The word that Moses useth, betokeneth to destroy, corrupt, or mar. And some expound it, that the children of Israel did not any harm unto God in their turning away unto wickedness: as in very deed he should receive no harm at all, though we were all become §10strangers unto him. Can we advantage him any whit? What benefit shall he receive at our hands? When men turn away from God, he is neither hindered nor furthered thereby; for he continueth evermore at one stay, without increasing or diminishing. This then was a reproof which Moses gave to the whole people, as if he should say, Go to, you have followed your own lusts, you have made no reckoning of your God, and what will be the end of §20it? In deed he will forsake you, but his so doing is not for any harm that he shall have received by it: What passeth he for that? Shall not all turn to your own confusion? This les•on deserveth to be well marked: For it is good to humble men, by making them to understand that God may ever forbear them well enough, and that his seeking of them is for their benefit and welfare, without regard of himself. But we may take this saying of Moses more plainly,§30 that they had marred themselves towards him, because their true soundness had bin to have lived in obedience towards the Law. That is the mean whereby men may abide in their state, I mean them whom God hath called to him. And I speak not of the corrupted state as it is in Adam, and as we bring it from our mothers womb: but of our state when God hath repaired us after his own image. That is the mean for us to persist, namely by holding our selves to §40the pureness of his word, without swerving to the right hand or to the left. But if we leave the doctrine of God, by and by we be corrupted and marred. Therefore when men turn away from the pure and plain word of God; it is an infecting and corrupting of themselves, such as always leadeth them to death.
Now it is sayd here, They marred themselues towardes him. The worde that Moses vseth, betokeneth to destroy, corrupt, or marre. And some expounde it, that the children of Israel did not any harme vnto God in their turning away vnto wickednesse: as in very deede hee shoulde receiue no harme at all, though wee were all become