A17698:4428
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.
that at the first it may seem that they should be utterly confounded, and that the law served but to smite them with main blows like §50a beetle, and to daunt them and scar them in such wise, as they might not approach unto God: but yet have we need to be so mortified. For let us consider well the pride of our nature, and the false overweening and vain self trust wherewith we be puffed up, and how stubborn we be against God: and we shall find that if he will do us good, he must be fain to beat us down after that manner, and his word must be as a two edged sword, so as there be neither §60thought nor affection in us which is not searched by it,1 and it must enter into the very marrow of the bones, as the Apostle treateth thereof in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Therefore let us not think it strange that God doth here tell Moses again of his fault, notwithstanding that it was forgiven him. For although he ought to be glad of it, because God did it in such wise as he was nothing hindered thereby to call upon him quietly, and to cast himself as it were into his fatherly lap: yet was it good for him to think upon the fault which he had committed. And why? To humble him, to the intent he should yield the more honour to the infinite goodness of God, and say, Alas, I might justly have bin sunken to the bottom of hell for one only deed that befell me in less than the turning of a hand: though I was grieved at the manifold grudgings of the people, yet intended I not to have offended my God, but it happened unto me through oversight for want of thinking thereon. And now if this only one fault was enough to cast me into endless cursedness; Alas what is due to my whole life? I should have committed a thousand thousand offences, yea and I should never have ceased to augment Gods vengeance upon me still, if I had not bin restrained and held back. And yet must I now bear the punishment of my fault, which in the sight of the world seemeth very light; but God knoweth what manner a one it is, seeing that for it I must be forestalled of the land of Canaan, and have deserved to be banished, not only from thence, but also from the heavenly life. Thus ye see how it was good for Moses to be taught humility after that fashion: And what is then to be thought of us?
that at the first it may seeme that they should bee vtterly confounded, and that the law serued but to smite them with maine blowes like