A17698:4287
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.
Furthermore let us not think it strange, that the young babes are here spoken of. For as touching maids that are to be married, young men, and old folks: if a nation be corrupted, and the mischief have once overflowed his banks (as they say:) they also must needs be infected as well as the rest, and the world sees it is so. For when old men are once sopped in naughtiness, and inured by custom §30to offend God: they will rather have their skins plucked off from their backs a thousand times if they had so many skins, than once to be reclaimed. For they become so blockish, or else so enraged, that their is no way to deal with them. As for young folk, we see they be as it were set on fire to make war against God. Again, wheresoever wickedness reigneth, and all things are perverted: there the young women become as wild as Roes, so as there remaineth not any §40honesty, and much less any fear of God in them. This is apparent to all men. And therefore it is not to be wondered at, though God do threaten both young and old. But as touching little babes, that may seem the more cruelty, because they have not offended like the others. For will God punish the guiltless? Doth he not say by his Prophet Ezekiel, that the parties which have sinned shall bear their own punishment,1 and that the Child shall not be §50punished for his father? Yes, but we must mark that God hath a reason of his judgements, though it be unknown to us. We then may think some chastisements of Gods to be overrigorous, but yet doeth he know why he doth so, and it becometh us to reverence the things with all humility, which are incomprehensible to us. For what a thing were it if we should measure all Gods works by our wit? Can we attain to them? Howe far extendeth our §60understanding? Let us consider how weak and small it is, and what rudeness is in us. But on the other side, what are the judgements of God? Even a deep gulf unpossible to be gauged:2 they be uncomprehensible as saith the scripture. Again, whom did he ever call to counsel? Therefore let us content our selves with the things which God hath opened unto us, and be mindful of the thing which we have seen not long since,