A17698:4165
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.
He addeth That they were a froward and cursed generation. And it serveth to express yet better, that although God had prevented them with his grace, & given them occasion to continue still with him: yet they could not have that steadfastness. And what should a man say, seeing them so unconstant, but that they were a froward generation? For if other men to whom God showed not the like grace, were to be condemned justly, if they should have dealt so wickedly: are not those double guilty which being adopted by God, and being aided and succoured so many ways by him, had nevertheless so far overshot themselves, as to forsake him and disclaim him utterly? And therefore let us mark that Moses beholding the overgreat unthankfulness of that people, did so aggravate their offence in respect thereof, that he utterly disgradeth them in this place. Now must we apply this to ourselves. For according as God hath uttered the treasures of his goodness towards us, so much the more be we bound and beholden unto him. And if we falsify our faith, cursed are we: for our enormity is the more accursed, and our iniquity is the greevouser both before the Angels, and before all mortal creatures. And therefore let us so walk in the fear of our Lord, sith it hath pleased him to take us for his inheritance, that we take not upon us that title in vain, least we become like unto them which are fallen away from him.
Hee addeth That they were a frowarde and cursed generation. And it serueth to expresse yet better, that although God had preuented them with his grace, & giuen them occasion to continew still with him: yet they coulde not haue that stedfastnesse. And what should a man say, seeing them so vnconstant, but that they were a frowarde generation? For if other men to whome God shewed not the lyke grace, were to be condemned iustly, if they shoulde haue dealt so wickedly: are not those dubble guiltie which being adopted by God, and being ayded and succoured so many wayes by him, had neuerthelesse so farre ouershot themselues, as to forsake him and disclaime him vtterly? And therefore let vs marke that Moses beholding the ouergreat vnthankfulnesse of that people, did so aggrauate their offence in respect thereof, that hee vtterly disgradeth them in this place. Nowe must we apply this to ourselues. For according as God hath vttered the treasures of his goodnesse towardes vs, so much the more be wee bound and beholden vnto him. And if we falsify our faith, cursed are we: for our enormitie is the more accursed, and our iniquitie is the greeuouser both before the Angels, and before all mortal creatures. And therefore let vs so walke in the feare of our Lorde, sith it hath pleased him to take vs for his inheritance, that wee take not vppon vs that title in vaine, least wee become lyke vnto them which are falne away from him.