A17698:4222
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 see on the contrary part, that if God deal bountifully with us, we play the stubborn and unruly horses. As a horse that is overpampered in the stable will not §10be ruled, but falls to kicking, and becomes so lusty as if he were wild: even so is it with us also: such is our nature. And are we to be excused, when we shall have abused Gods gifts after that fashion? If it be demanded what maketh men proud, what maketh men become wild beasts, so as they cannot away with any yoke, but are fierce and hardhearted, and cannot afterward away with good instruction and warning, but are mad against God, puffed up with pride and §20presumption, stark blind, destitute of reason, and utterly void of modesty and humanity: what is the cause of all this, but the good things which God hath bestowed upon them? And how may that be? For it is a monstrous thing, and a thing utterly against nature. God cometh to us, he uttereth his treasures, he would have us to know him to be as gentle and gracious a father as can be, he maketh us as it were cockneys; he could do no more to show what §30affection he beareth us, except he should pour out his bowels upon us; he entertaineth us as if it were in a Paradise, accordingly as it is said of all those whom God hath taught,1 namely that he keepeth them as much at their ease, as if they had all the commodities that could be wished. Seeing then that God hath showed himself such a one; what a thing is it that men should take occasion thereby, to kick against him, and to be proud and full of presumption & overweening,§40 so as they should despise all admonitions, yea and be as it were stark mad against all doctrine? And what a horrible sin is this? Yet do we make a trade and custom of it. Whereby we see how froward our nature is, and what a bottomless pit of all vices and infections is in it.
But wee see on the contrarie part, that if God deale bountifully with vs, wee play the stubborne and vnruly horses. As a horse that is ouerpampered in the stable wil not §10be ruled, but fals to kicking, and becomes so lustie as if he were wilde: euen so is it with vs also: such is our nature. And are wee to bee excused, when we shall haue abused Gods gifts after that fashion? If it be demaunded what maketh men proude, what maketh men become wilde beasts, so as they cannot away with any yoke, but are feerce and hardharted, and cannot afterward away with good instruction and warning, but are madde against God, puffed vp with pride and