A17698:4318
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.
His power is not abated, as saith the prophet Isaiah.1 Wherefore consume we so away in our miseries? Is it that God hath deaf ears & heareth not them that call upon him? Or that his arm is broken so as he cannot help them as he did at the first? No no: but because our sins have cast a bar between him & us, & we be not worthy to come at him to feel his help as afore.
His power is not abated, as saith the prophet Esay.1 Wherefore consume we so away in our miseries? Is it that God hath deafe eares & heareth not them yt call vppon him? Or yt his arme is broken so as he cannot help them as he did at ye first? No no: but bicause our sinnes haue cast a barre between him & vs, & we be not worthy to come at him to feele his helpe as afore.
- 1Esa. 59.••
Besides this, Moses by way of comparison toucheth the children of Israel yet nearer the quick in that he sayeth, That their enemies were Judges thereof. And thereby he meaneth that even beasts might perceive it (as it is said in the proverb,) and that blind folk might judge of it by groping. Now who were the enemies of the children of Israel at that time, but the Infidels which had not any spark of light, even such as were sotted in their superstitions? And how could they then judge of Gods power? Even by the apparentness thereof, which was so great that it needed not ⟨p. 1152⟩any great reason to conceive it. So then, in effect Moses sayeth here that God had so manifested his power in saving his people, as that not only they which were enlightened by the holy ghost, but also even the brutishest in the world might perceive it. And in deed, what miracles wrought God in delivering his people out of the land of Egypt, and in leading them through the wilderness? Need we any great sharpness of wit to conceive so wonderful power, which may ravish