A17698:4423
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.
And herewithall we ought also to mark well, that whereas God sendeth him up into Mount Nebo, and telleth him that he shall dye there; he (as we shall see in the end) resisteth it not, but prepareth himself to it. True it is that he pronounceth the blessings which shall be seen hereafter in order, and which we will go in hand withal to morrow if it please God. Also he maketh §20as it were his last Will to all the people. And yet for all this he is not dismayed; but putteth himself into Gods hand, and prepareth himself willingly to dye. Now herein we see, how the faithful ought to be always willing to go whithersoever God calleth them, and how they ought to overleap all the difficulties of this world; insomuch that although they meet with never so many thorns, and never so many encounters: yet ought they to thrust forward still,§30 & not to be driven aside, nor to be put out of hart for all that. Also when God taketh them out of the world, it behoveth them to have always one foot onward on the way; as if they should say, lo here I am Lord, I am ready to come unto thee. But this cannot be done, except a man have profited well in Gods school, and specially that we know there is a better life prepared for us. For with out that, we can never feel truly that we be but strangers in this world. For they which believe §40there is none other life than this which we enjoy here, and think to make their rest in this world; are so wedded to it, that a man cannot pluck them from it but by force and spite of their teeth. But when we once know that our inheritance is in heaven: we conclude that this world is but a pilgrimage, and that we must pass apace through it. And he that passeth it so, shall find it no hard matter to go through with his journey, when he seeth that his salvation is on the other side, and §50that God calleth him thereunto. The thing then whereunto it behoveth us to put our whole endeavour, is the minding of the heavenly life, and to consider that God allureth us daily to come to the immortal glory which he hath prepared for us, to the intent that when we be to depart out of this world, we may not go unto him against our wills, nor make complaints, nor say after the manner of unbelievers, What shall I do, or what shall become of me? For (as S. Paul showeth us,)§60 he that hath our gage in his hands,