A17698:4199
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.
But we must always mark, that the speaking of these things by Moses to the Jews is after such a sort, that his doctrine is behoveful to us at this §30day. And therefore we must understand, that God leadeth us up and down in this world, to the end we may have the more leisure to feel his favour, if we perceive it not sufficiently in one day. True it is that if we should have experience of Gods goodness but once in all our life, the same ought to suffice us, at leastwise if we had not our eyes blindfolded, or that we were not short witted to forget Gods doings out of hand. If he had once given us any record of his fatherly love, we ought to §40acknowledge the same and to mind well that lesson, and to exercise our selves therein daily both even and morn. But what? Because all is marred by our vanity, and all the good that God doth for us is by and by forgotten: therefore doth he train us in this flightful life, and lead us up & down after such a fashion, that we be put in mind of our wretchedness many ways. The happening of so many necessities & Gods delivering of us from them, is to the intent that we should bear it §50the better in mind; how he not only succoureth us once or twice at our need, but also holdeth on with his favour throughout, yielding us record by infinite ways that he is our father & taketh us for his children. After this manner ought we to weigh this word Lead, when God tosseth & turmoileth us to & fro in this world, making us to feel many things, so as we have not one continual state of quietness, but are fain to walk one while one way, and another while another, & anon to go clean §60back again, enduring now cold and now heat, & another time hunger, & being vexed sometimes with noise of wars, sometime with sicknesses, & sometime with other things. Now when we be so led up & down, let us assure our selves that our Lords meaning is to make us to come to the knowledge of his goodness.
But we must alwayes marke, that the speaking of these thinges by Moses to ye Iewes is after such a sort, that his doctrine is behoueful to vs at this §30day. And therefore we must vnderstand, yt God leadeth vs vp and downe in this world, to ye end we may haue the more leisure to feele his fauor, if we perceiue it not sufficiently in one day. True it is yt if we should haue experiēce of Gods goodnes but once in all our life, ye same ought to suffice vs, at leastwise if we had not our eyes blindfolded, or that we were not shortwitted to forget Gods doinges out of hand. If he had once giuen vs any recorde of his fatherly loue, we ought to