A17698:4250
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.
In respect whereof he sayeth that God saw §60it and was angry at it, even because of the misbehaviour of his sons and daughters. This sentence is a confirmation of my former saying. For whereas the Jews are termed the children of God, it is not in way of honour, but rather to show that they were guilty of such unfaithfulness as to forsake their God, and to rebel against him, and to work him such spite, as that they had lever choose the devil than him. Thus ye see how we ought to join these two things together, namely, that God is the mighty one which begat us, and of whom we hold all things: and therewithal that he hath received us and adopted us to be his children. But we shall pay full dear for it, if we continue not in his obedience. The thing then whereunto we must come back, is that if God cannot bear with the wickedness of the world, ne doeth forgive the unbelievers which have sinned without the knowledge of his will: needs must we be double punished, and needs must more horrible vengeance light upon our heads, who have been faithfully instructed to draw nigh unto him, and taught that he hath nourished us in his lap as his own children, and yet notwithstanding we have forsaken him.1 And that is Saint Pauls meaning where he sayeth, that they which have sinned without the law, shall perish nevertheless for all that: and that they which have offended after warning given by knowledge of the law, shall have the sorer damnation, accordingly also as our Lord Jesus sayeth,2 that the servant which hath done amiss though it were through unskilfulness, shall not fail to be punished for it: because he ought to have inquired his masters will. If a servant say; I wist it not: And knowest thou not that I am thy master? Oughtest thou not to inquire my will? But much more ought God to have such preeminence over his creatures. And if they that have offended so through ignorance are not excused, what shall become of us which know the will of our GOD? If we fall to striving against him, to spite him as it were of set purpose and of prepensed malice and frowardness; if we fall to dashing at him with out horns, so as we set our selves against his righteousness and transgress his whole doctrine: must not so great and so devilish headiness be punished much more grievously?