A17698:4385
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.
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 §10end we may find some taste in them and be touched with them. But yet must we always have an eye to the end, and to the intent where at this doctrine aimeth. And our Lord saith that it is for the slain's sakes, and for the prisoners sake•. Whereby he doth us to understand that the vengeance which he speaketh of is for the welfare of his Church; howbeit not for all that have borne the name of faithful, for we know there are many which make false brags of Gods name, & that §20is to their double condemnation. We know that the chaff is mingled with the good corn, and the wicked are intermeddled with the godly. But yet they which falsely abuse Gods name after that fashion, must not look that their hypocrisy shall any whit boot them: nay rather they shall pay full deer for it. They then which pretend to be faithful and are not, shall not be allowed before GOD for ever: but he will mark them out for falsifiers of his trueth.