A17698:4296
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.
Ye see then after what manner this text is to be understood, where it is said that God was afraid to provoke the enemy: not that he was unable to let them or to withstand them if he had would; or that he was unable to have stopped the mouths of the Infidels; but because he saw men so malicious, that their whole desire is to have full liberty to speak evil of his majesty. Which thing he perceiving, intendeth to remedy it. And by what means? Even by such as he himself likes best of. Not that he doeth it of necessity (as I said afore) or by any constraint: but that his good pleasure is so. And therefore God could well root us out of the world at this day: and on the other side he could well make the Papists dumb, and altogether senseless, or else he could make them blocks or stones, or else he could utterly overwhelm them, so as his name should not be blasphemed by them: and therewithal he could raise up a new people which should glorify him in his just destroying and consuming of us. God could well do all these things: but yet for all that he holdeth still such order in his works, as he hath determined upon in himself. That is the cause why on the one side he spareth us, and on the other side giveth not occasion to the Papists to blaspheme his holy name if he should use extreme rigour against us.
Ye see then after what manner this text is to bee vnderstoode, where it is saide that God was afraide to prouoke the enemie: not that hee was vnable to let them or to withstande them if hee had would; or that hee was vnable to haue stopped the mouthes of the Infidels; but because hee sawe men so malicious, that their whole desire is to haue full libertie to speake euill of his maiestie. Which thing he perceyning, intendeth to remedie it. And by what meanes? Euen by such as hee himselfe likes best of. Not that hee doeth it of necessitie (as I saide afore) or by anie constraynt: but that his good pleasure is so. And therefore God coulde well roote vs out of the worlde at this day: and on the otherside hee coulde well make the Papistes dumbe, and altogether senselesse, or else hee coulde make them blockes or stones, or else he could vtterlie ouerwhelme them, so as his name should not bee blasphemed by them: and therewithall hee coulde raise vp a newe people which should glorifie him in his iust destroying and consuming of vs. God coulde well doe all these thinges: but yet for all that hee holdeth still such order in his workes, as hee hath determined vppon in himselfe. That is the cause why on the one side hee spareth vs, and on the other side giueth not occasion to the Papistes to blaspheme his holy name if hee shoulde vse extreeme rigour agaynst vs.