A17698:4426
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.
because we know (as I have said already,) that GOD doeth so temper his rigour, as that even in his punishing of us, he ceaseth not to do the office of a father still, so as the principal (that is to say the salvation of our souls) is reserved unto us, yea and the temporal chastisements are beneficial to us, as by the means whereof GOD cleanseth us, and maketh us to taste the better how greatly it is for our behoof to have his favour. That then is a thing which we have to mark in the person of Moses.
bycause wee knowe (as I haue sayde alreadie,) that GOD doeth so temper his rigour, as that euen in his punishing of vs, hee ceasseth not to doe the office of a father still, so as the principall (that is to say the saluation of our soules) is reserued vnto vs, yea and the temporall chastisementes are beneficiall to vs, as by the meanes whereof GOD cleanseth vs, and maketh vs to taste the better how greatly it is for our behoofe to haue his fauour. That then is a thing which wee haue to marke in the person of Moses.
So then, if any man be blamed for his faults, though it were when he is sick, yea or at the last gasp when Gods judgements are set afore him to make him sorry and to lament: yet must he not think it strange. For as we see, there are many which have need to be so touched, and to be as it were touched with a lancer, that they may be brought to God with such reverence as is requisite. And although such corrections be bitter at the first sight; yet must not men fall §10into despair, but always have recourse to Gods goodness, assuring themselves that his blaming of them after that manner, is not an utter condemning of them, but is done to the end that they should be their own Judges, and that he therewithal is minded to receive them to mercy. Therefore let us suffer our Lord to deal after that manner with us, and whensoever we have any heartbiting, so as God toucheth us inwardly with the remembrance of our sins,§20 or we see them in reading his word, or we hear them spoken of in sermons, or we be warned of them privately: let us learn that the setting of them before us is not to make us conceive any heartburning, or to cast us in despair, so as we should be kept back from God: but that we should therewithal embrace his promises, and not fear to be disappointed of the things which he hath behighted us: for his proceeding after that manner, is to the end we