A17698:4313
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.
your enemies gained nothing at your hands, but were vanquished by the only look of you, because your God fought for you. But as now ye §50see how your God taketh part against you, and how it is he that fighteth against you. And therefore impute not your rough handling unto men, but consider how it is the hand of God that pursueth you and is against you. Had the Israelites understood this, they had been touched out of hand with their faults, they had humbled themselves, & they had returned unto God, acknowledging him for their Judge. But they continued still in their spitefulness. Now §60then we see the sturdiness and also the more than beastly blindness which was in them. And this upbraiding of them is to be marked well. For we know it is the highest point of condemnation, when GOD winneth nothing at our hands by chastising us, but his scourges become unprofitable, as if a man should smire with a hammer upon a stithy or Anvil. Therefore when GOD looseth his labour after that fashion in correcting us; it is a token that our diseases are utterly uncurable. And that is the cause why that in the first Chapter of Isaiah,1 he playeth the sorrowful father, saying: Alas, what a thing is this? From the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, there is not any sound part in this people. I see they be the same they were afore, they be no whit amended; and must I needs have bestowed my labour in vain? We see whereunto this tendeth: to wit, GOD showeth that men are become stark devils when they consider not that his correcting of them is to bring them to amendment. Now then if we chafe upon the bit when God sendeth us such warnings: surely we be utterly unreformable. Therefore let us bethink our selves better, and as soon as God lifteth up his finger and maketh us to perceive his displeasure; let our sins come before our eyes, and let us think upon them with utter misliking of them, and return again unto him. The thing then whereof we be warned in this text, is that we should better regard GODS scourges, and not kick against the prick: for we shall gain nothing thereby. We have heard what is said in the Law, as I have alleged heretofore, and as we have read it in the eight and twentieth Chapter:2 that is to wit, that if we march stoutly against GOD, he also will strike crossly and overthwartly upon us.