A17698:4328
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 now to apply this lesson to our benefit, let us mark first of all, that if we ween our selves to have done but a small fault, as men commonly do either cloak their offences through hypocrisy, or else go about to make them less than §20they be indeed: God will take us to be like the folk of Sodom and Gomor. And why so? Those blind wretches gave over themselves unto overheynous and cursed sins, and became beastly. But what? As for us we have the light of life: we have GOD calling us into the way which is ready made, so as we need but to go on: we be warned to walk in obedience to GOD, and to dedicate purr selves wholly to him even as he hath chosen us to be his heritage:1 now §30if after all this, we offend him yet still, although our sins be counted but small before men, are we not as blameworthy as Sodom and Gomor, considering the rebelliousness which is in us, and that we make war against God even of set purpose? Yes: and therefore let no man beguile himself, nor no man flatter himself, but let us consider how our Lord will condemn us still as he did Sodom and Gomor. For God did give them their fill,2 so as they §40had abundance of all good things, whereupon they waxed proud, and did shut their hands and vouchsafed not to succour the poor and needy. To be short, in that place he accuseth Sodom and Gomor of three things: first that when GOD preserved them, they became unthankful to him, and considered not from whence their welfare proceeded, secondly that they grew proud, and gave themselves to pomps and delights: and thirdly §50that they were cruel, and had no pity nor compassion of their neighbours to relieve them, having wherewith. And now let us see if our Lord give not us occasion enough, to love and serve him, seeing he blesseth us so many ways. We must not have an eye to the things that belong to this flightfull and transitory life, and to the sustenance of our bodies: but let us consider how God poureth out his spiritual benefits upon us. Having so our fill, what acknowledgement §60do we make to him thereof? Doeth not the world see that we put all things out of mind? It should seem that our meaning is to devour GODS benefits even in mockage of him. As touching pride, doth not the world see how great it is in most of us? Do we suffer our selves to be guided by the hand of God?