A17698:4212
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 immediately after▪ that God alone led his people, and that there was no strange god with him. This serveth to condemn the wickedness of the children of Israel, which could §10not rest wholly upon God; whereas he was so sufficient for them: for they had found by experience, that they needed not to seek any other. And not without cause is this set down. For although men do not utterly refuse Gods help, yet can they not content themselves with it, but they fall to ranging and roving and make by leaps, bearing themselves in hand, that it will be good for them to match some other help with God. Lo at what point we be. For we would be §20ashamed to say that God can do us no good, & that we can well forbear him. Therefore we can find in our hearts that he shall have the first place and chief preeminence: but we cannot find in our hearts to rest wholly upon him, but we fall to conceiving of fond imaginations, O, God is far from us, we deserve not that he should have care of our salvation, and therefore it were good for us to get us this or that. To be short, in all ages men have sought occasion to §30turn away from God, not by falling quite and clean away from him, (as I said) but by making a mingle mangle, and by seeking still the things which have seemed best to their own liking, as though God were not enough of himself alone.
Nowe, it is saide immediatly after▪ that God alone ledde his people, and that there was no straunge god with him. This serueth to condemne the wickednesse of the children of Israel, which coulde §10not rest wholly vpon God; whereas hee was so sufficient for them: for they had founde by experience, that they needed not to seeke any other. And not without cause is this set downe. For although men doe not vtterly refuse Gods help, yet can they not content themselues with it, but they fall to raunging and rouing and make byleapes, bearing themselues in hand, that it wilbe good for them to match some other helpe with God. Lo at what point we be. For we woulde bee §20ashamed to say that God can doe vs no good, & that we can well forbeare him. Therefore wee can finde in our hearts that he shal haue the first place and chiefe preheminence: but we cannot finde in our hearts to rest wholly vpon him, but we fall to conceiuing of fonde imaginations, O, God is farre from vs, wee deserue not that hee should haue care of our saluation, and therefore it were good for vs to get vs this or that. To bee short, in all ages men haue sought occasion to