A17698:4372
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.
WE saw yesterday how it is not enough to know, that there is nothing but vanity and leasing in Idols, and in all the superstitions that men have devised of their own heads: but that §20the chief point is to know God to do him homage, to walk in his fear, and to consider how dreadful his majesty is. Now heerewithall we must mark also, that when we once know God to be too great a Lord to be dallied withal, if he chastise us for offending him, we must taste of his mercy to return freely unto him, being throughly persuaded and resolved, that we shall find mercy at his hand, though we be unworthy of it. And that is the cause why he saith, That it is he which killeth and §30quickeneth, and that it is he that woundeth and healeth again. Now we have always these two things to mark: The one is that we shall be held in awe by considering (as I said afore) how dreadful Gods majesty is▪ according to the Apostles treating thereof in the fore alleged tenth chapter to the Hebrews.1 That is the thing which maketh us to live in awe. For we be not so bold to offend God, neither take we such liberty as they do which fling out at all §40adventure: but yet, when we have done amiss and God warneth us of our faults, then have we need to resort to his infinite goodness, and to assure ourselves that howsoever the case stand, we shall obtain pardon of our offences. Truly these two things, namely, That God killeth and quickeneth again; and that he maketh a wound and afterward healeth again: seem at the first blush to be contraries: For God seemeth not to play the Physician towards us when we be as it §50were dead and laid in our graves. Neither seemeth this to be agreeable to his nature: to put us to death, and to afflict us: but (as I said afore) he must be fain to do both the one and the other: and we on our side also must be fain to feel it. For as long as men take leave to do evil, it is meet that God should hold them in awe, and show them that he is their Judge. And on the other side that wretched sinners §60should humble themselves, and with grief of mind turn again unto him to obtain forgiveness at his hand; and then will he be forward and ready to forget all their offences, and show them nothing but all manner of gentleness & friendship.