A17698:4365
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.
For the same cause also doeth our Lord §30by his prophet Hosea liken Idolaters to Harlots. As long as a Harlot or Courtesan hath great resort unto her, and hath great gifts, gains, and rewards, and is costly apparelled, and maintained in her delights and pleasures: she maketh more account of herself (notwithstanding her lewdness) than all the honest women of the world: and even so is it with Idolaters. As long as they prosper in the world, they bear themselves in hand that their Idolatry is the §40cause thereof, and thereupon they grow hardhearted. Now if our Lord let them alone in that plight, they settle themselves continually more and more in their filthiness: and therefore he must be fain to use violent remedies. In respect hereof he saith that he will strip them out of their clothes,1 yea and discover their shameful parts, so as they shall become like a Harlot that is smitten with fistulas, Pocks, and such other filthy diseases, and §50in stead of her former bravery, is loathed and shunned of all men, that whereas she went ruffling in her aglets before, now she findeth not a man that will give her a bit of bread, but is shaken off and scorned at all hands; whereby she perceiveth her misery, and saith. Alas, I should have kept me to mine own husband, and [because I did not,] now I have the reward which I have deserved. Now then a lewd woman that is given to such naughtiness, will never §60be reclaimed but by such necessity. And even so is it with Idolaters. That is the cause why Moses saith now, that when God hath so discouraged his people, that both great and small shall be as it were vanished away: then it shall be said unto them, Where be your gods? Go make your moan to your Idols, go call upon them as ye were wont to do. And so let us consider Gods goodness in that he hath reclaimed us from the Idolatry wherein we were, and that with more gentleness than is spoken of here even by his reaching of his hand unto us to draw us to him. And if he use now and then some sharp chastisements, let us assure our selves he doeth it not without cause, but for that he knoweth our diseases to be so deep rooted, that we have need to be so purged and cured.