A17698:4402
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.
But now if we consider how many things there are to draw us away from it, and to thrust us out of the way, yea and to pluck us back that we might not profit in Gods word: it may well teach us further, how greatly we ought to strain our selves to be quiet and peaceable, that our Lord may be heard, and we give heed to the things which he vouchsafeth to teach us. Howbeit we be far off from such perfection. For hardly can a man abide steadfast one minute of an hour, without the coming of some toy in his head to turn him away. A hundred of them will come unto us in one hour: and how many moe then in a whole day? Yea and sometimes the conceit of our foolish imaginations doth so carry us away; that we wot not where we be. But behold, our Lord God would fain assure us of his sayings: there is ⟨p. 1174⟩such a covenant passed between him & us, that it is not heard for us to hearken unto him; insomuch that if we will give care unto him, we shall find that his doctrine is not unprofitable to us. And ought not this to provoke us to fight against all such imaginations as trouble our minds and make us to wander away? Yes: and so we see how greatly this exhortation ought to prevail with us, considering that we be so fickle minded and lightheaded, as experience proveth.
But nowe if wee consider howe many thinges there are to drawe vs away from it, and to thrust vs out of the way, yea and to pluck vs backe that we might not profite in Gods woorde: it may well teache vs further, howe greatly wee ought to straine our selues to bee quiet and peaceable, that our Lorde may bee heard, and wee giue heede to the thinges which hee vouchsafeth to teache vs. Howebeit we bee farre off from such perfection. For hardly can a man abyde steadfast one minute of an houre, without the comming of some toy in his head to turne him away. A hundred of them will come vnto vs in one houre: and how many moe then in a whole day? Yea and sometimes the conceite of our foolishe imaginations doth so cary vs away; that we wote not where we be. But beholde, our Lorde God woulde fayne assure vs of his sayinges: there is ⟨p. 1174⟩such a couenant passed betweene him & vs, that it is not heard for vs to hearken vnto him; insomuch that if we will giue care vnto him, we shall finde that his doctrine is not vnprofitable to vs. And ought not this to prouoke vs to fight against all such imaginations as trouble our mindes and make vs to wander away? Yes: and so wee see how greatly this exhortation ought to preuaile with vs, considering that we be so fickle minded and lightheaded, as experience proueth.