A17698:4302
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 saw yesterday how God having a respect to the Infidels & their blasphemies, had spared the people of Israel. And thereupon it was showed, that God doth oftentimes pity us, & not punish us so rigorously as we deserve, to the §10end that his name should not be made a scoffing stock, & a jesting stock among the wicked, who seek occasion of scorning when they see God chastise his Church: & thereupon they fall to railing at the doctrine and Religion it self. But now it is added here, That this people were destitute of discretion, & void of understanding. Truly men think themselves wise enough when they be crafty and subtle in providing well for their business, and in practising this and that. And then §20fall they flat to despise God, as we see that all these worldlings do, who are forepossessed of this fantasy of self wisdom, by reason whereof the whole word of God, and the suffering of themselves to be governed by it, is to them but simplicity and foolishness. But yet for all that, the holy Ghost affirmeth, & that justly, that all such as live not in the fear of GOD, are witless. For our true wisdom is to yield our selves to him which can lead us to salvation: and without §30that, we be blind wretches and enclosed with darkness. And therefore we can not but go astray all our life long, and after tripping to stumble right down, yea even into a deadly fall. We must understand then, that until we be come to the submitting of our selves wholly unto GOD, and to know that all our happiness lieth in him: we be void of discretion. But this cannot be, but that therewithal men must also needs know themselves. And in §40deed, if a man have gone about heaven and earth, and gotten the understanding of all things in them, and in the mean time thinketh not upon his GOD, nor yet upon himself: I pray you to what purpose is all his understanding? If he were the skilfullest Astrologer in the world, and had all Philosophy enclosed in his brain, and were perfect in all other sciences, and yet in the mean while knew not himself, nor had any regard of GOD; but were so brutish that §50he wist not what Religion meaneth: were such a man to be more esteemed, than a simple idiot which liveth in the fear of GOD, and knoweth to what end he is created?
WE saw yesterday how God hauing a respect to the Infidels & their blasphemies, had spared the people of Israel. And thereupon it was shewed, that God doth oftentimes pitie vs, & not punish vs so rigorously as we deserue, to ye