A17698:4384
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.
Therefore we must tarry his leisure with patience, until he take the sword in hand, and keep his Assizes. Let us refer all unto him, and in the mean while keep silence, without grudging against him. Let not the corrections which we suffer set us in such a chafe as to make us play the desperate persons. Thus ye see how profitable this doctrine is to us, if we can apply it to our instruction.
Therefore we must tary his leasure with patience, vntil he take the sword in hand, and keepe his Assises. Let vs referre all vnto him, and in the meane whyle keep silence, without grudging against him. Let not the corrections which wee suffer set vs in such a chafe as to make vs play the desperate persons. Thus ye see how profitable this doctrine is to vs, if we can apply it to our instruction.
Now it is said consequently, that God will requite his enemies with the like, and pay them their hire which hate him, he will make his arrows drunk with blood, and make such a slaughter of them that they shall all be discomfited. His speaking after that manner is to make his Justice the more terrible to us, because we be slow and dull headed as I have said afore, insomuch that words move us not a whit. Therefore doth our Lord set down a vehement kind of speech here, to the end to waken us, and to make us yield due honour to his Justice, and that (as I have said afore) it might be to us as though we saw both heaven and earth shaken. For after the same manner speaketh he by his Prophet Haggai; & the Apostle showing us the majesty of the Gospel,1 allegeth the same text, that as oft as we ⟨p. 1170⟩hear the voice thereof sound, it behoveth us to call to mind, that God will be heard and known both above and beneath. Now it is certain that the holy Ghost would not have used such speech but for our blockishness sake. Seeing then that our Lord setteth down here so many figures and so many comparisons, let us accuse our selves, and consider that he doth it for the brutishness of our nature, by reason whereof he is fain to chaw things to us aforehand, to the