A17698:4315
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.
And after this, Moses addeth further, that their mighty one is not as ours: that is to say, The Idols which the heathen worship, are not like to our God. And that it is so, they themselves are the Judges. This place hath commonly been expounded, as though Moses had complained that the enemies of the Israelites had son surprised them, and so vexed them as no man might succour them: but it is clean contrary. For Moses declareth that if God were not against his people, they should not be so scourged by their enemies: as if he should say, ye must not look at your own strength nor yet at your enemies, but consider that for as much as ye have fought against your GOD, and provoked his vengeance against you by your offences: all these troubles which ⟨p. 1151⟩you do now endure, are of his stirring up against you, and your enemies have not any whit of strength, but of his gift. Think not therefore that they should have such power, unless he had sold you, and that he himself held ye in captivity, and had delivered you into the hands of your enemies. And for proof thereof, is he like their idols? Strength standeth not in men, but it cometh from heaven. Now then do not the heathen deserve to be deprived of all aid, when §10they worship their idols and dead things? But you now do worship the living God, he hath showed that he will keep you in his tuition, and that then you shall be safe against all the world. Seeing then that your God is not like the idols of the heathen; how could you be overcome by them, if God did not afflict you, give you over, and forsake you? And that it is so (sayeth he,) even our enemies are Judges. That is to say, the heathen perceive and find §20by experience the power of our God, so as they must needs spite of their teeth confess, that our God hath all power in himself, and that their own idols are nothing. True it is that they abide still in their ignorance and beastliness, but yet howsoever they be disposed they have the experience thereof: and yet you consider not that. Here Moses rebuketh the stubbornness of the people yet more, in that they took not warning by the great number of chastisements §30and visitations. We see then in effect, that when we amend not at GODS chastisements, we must in the end pay the arrearages: for there is so much the less excuse in us.