A17698:4289
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 as concerning that which is said here of Babes, let us mark that if God listed to rend up the whole world by the roots, he could do it, yea and that right justly. For even from our very birth, we bring nothing but wrath and cursedness. If God take young babes out of the world, yea and damn them: yet is there no rigour in so doing: for we be all forlorn afore hand by nature. In this case therefore it behooveth us to cast down our heads and our eyes, and not presume to stand in contention with God by reasoning the matter with him, nor to control him as though he did wrong or injury to little infants in taking them out of the world. For (as I said) he may not only smite them with death, but also send them to everlasting damnation, because we be all cursed in Adam. Now then, when he hath withdrawn his grace from a whole Nation, and all of them are become reprobates: then must his wrath needs extend as well to the young infants as to their fathers, according to this saying, that God casteth back the wickedness of the fathers,1 into the bosoms and laps of their children. Not that the children be punished being guiltless: for God knoweth that they be not so. Yea, but we perceive not that they have offended. As who would say, that we were able to perceive as much as God knoweth. Have we as sharp a sight as he? [No.] So then, although we take little babes to be faultless: yet notwithstanding there is a naughtiness enclosed in them, and the seed of sin is sufficient to condemn them before God. Wherefore let us mark, that although he root out young babes; yet in so doing he cannot be blamed of cruelty: but he executeth a judgement which surmounteth the capacity and measure of mans wit, whereat we may well wonder, but yet must we confess it to be rightful, as it is indeed. We see how it fell out both in Sodom and in other places where it was his will to have all destroyed.2 When any such thing happeneth, let us understand that GODS intent is to make us to cast down our eyes. For if it befall so to ⟨p. 1144⟩the green tree,3 what shall be done to the dry? Behold the little Infants whom we imagine to be innocent and faultless: and yet we see that Gods vengeance wrappeth them in with the elder sort, and with those that have greatly offended. Righteous is GOD in so doing.