A17698:4257
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.
We have seen here afore, how GOD used long sufferance and gave not over his people at the first dash: but yet that at length he was fain to show that he will not that his goodness should be abused after that fashion, nor that men should harden their hearts by flattering themselves, when he punisheth them not out of hand. Therefore let us look to ourselves. For if we ⟨p. 1135⟩have offended God, although he lift not up his hand to punish us for it at the first instant, yet must not that make us to fall asleep. Let us (I say) prevent the vengeance of our God: for if he be patient and bear with us, it is to win us by his gracious goodness and gentleness,1 as S. Paul declareth in the second to the Romans. The more then that God spareth us, the more let us take warning to turn again unto him, and let it make us ashamed that §10we having so good a father, have been so stubborn against him. And if we will needs still welter in our own filthiness, and heap naughtiness upon naughtiness, so as there is no end nor measure of our transgressions: then must GOD be fain to execute the thing which he speaketh here by Moses, namely; Hyde a way his face; that is to say, that after he hath had a care of our welfare, and continued in doing us good; he will at length give us over, and show §20that he is no longer bound unto us, and that although he spared us for a time, it is not his intent to bolster us continually in our evil doings. Wherefore let us be afraid of this threat: and so long as GOD maketh us to perceive that he beholdeth us with pity, let us walk as before his eyes, as though he were ever present with us, and in all our thoughts, words, and deeds, let us have our eyes still upon him.
Wee haue seene heere afore, howe GOD vsed long sufferance and gaue not ouer his people at the first dash: but yet that at length hee was fayne to shewe that hee will not that his goodnesse shoulde bee abused after that fashion, nor that men shoulde harden their heartes by flattering themselues, when hee punisheth them not out of hande. Therefore let vs looke to ourselues. For if wee ⟨p. 1135⟩