A17698:4269
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 (as I said) we must mark well the long suffering which GOD used towards them, that it may keep us from sleeping in our sins. For if we abuse the goodness of our GOD when he spareth us, and useth not such vengeance as we have deserved: we shall be driven to pay the arrearages. Therefore let us return to him when he threateneth us. For it had been much better for the Jews to have §50suffered temporal punishments, than to have been so borne with, and in the end to have had so horrible vengeance laid upon them as we see befell to the City of Jerusalem. For if we look upon the adversities that fell upon it, we shall not find the like examples at any time since the beginning of the world, that the men of that country, and all other inhabitants were so afflicted. They played the mad men one against another for their victuals, and the §60veryest cutthroats bare the chief sway. They durst not go out of their city to ease themselves because they were enclosed on every side: and yet they were more cruelly handled within by thieves and rakehells. The ruffians were ready to cut the throats of them that came once out of their doors. Things were so far out of order and so horribly put to havoc, that women were fain to kill their own children for hunger and to eat them, and it spited the father to see the mother steal her own children to devour them into her own bowels. Therefore let us bethink ourselves, and when things are so far out of square, and we perceive it to be our Lords will to give us such examples, to the intent we should live in awe and fear, and yet notwithstanding that he giveth us leisure to return unto him; let us go unto him, yea and that with speed, & let us not drive off from day to day, for fear least the gate be shut against us. That is the thing which we have to bear in mind.
But (as I sayde) we must marke well the long suffering which GOD vsed towardes them, that it may keepe vs from sleeping in our sinnes. For if wee abuse the goodnesse of our GOD when hee spareth vs, and vseth not such vengeaunce as we haue deserued: we shall be driuen to pay the arrearages. Therefore let vs returne to him when hee threatneth vs. For it had beene much better for the Iewes to haue §50suffered temporall punishmentes, than to haue beene so borne with, and in the ende to haue had so horrible vengeaunce layde vppon them as we see befell to the Citie of Ierusalem. For if we looke vpon the aduersities that fell vppon it, wee shall not finde the like examples at any time since the beginning of the worlde, that the men of that countrey, and all other inhabiters were so afflicted. They played the madde men one against another for their vittelles, and the