A17698:4470
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.
To be short, we have two things to consider in Gods word, the one is his infinite goodness, in that he cometh down to us, and becometh familiar with us, and (as ye would say) dandleth us, and speaketh to us as kindly as a nurse would speak to her babe. Seeing then that God doth so fashion himself to our small capacity; we ought of right to love well his word. But yet therewithal let us mark also, that he will not bereave himself of his right, that he should not continue King for ever, and we tremble under him, and be subject to his laws and commandments. Thus the thing which we have in effect to bear in mind, is that Gods word ought to be as sweet to us as honey, and as precious as Gold and Silver, as David speaketh thereof.1 And he doth expressly name the people of Israel by the term of upright persons, as he had done afore; to show upon what condition we be Gods Church; namely that uprightness and Justice should reign among us. For we know that God will not be entangled in our disorders, if we should rush out into any manner of evil: for in so doing it might seem that we would drive God far from us. So much the more then ought we to mark well this text, that God was king among the upright. For it serveth to the end that we should first understand, that if we obey Gods Law, his kingdom flourisheth. And again, when we serve him, he maketh us to be righteous, & certes, our true righteousness dependeth upon our hearkening unto God, & ought to be esteemed thereafter. As for those then which are disobedient to the law and the Gospel; do well show that they cannot abide that GOD should govern them; and that is all one as if they defied him, and would not admit him for their king and Prince. True it is that none of the wicked sort of this world will confess that their intent is to alienate themselves from God after that manner: but yet is it so indeed, and it is not for them to plead to the contrary, because the sovereign Judge hath given definitive sentence thereof. Also let us mark by the way, that God never reigneth among us, except our conversation be conformable to his word, so as we forsake all our own wicked affections to obey him.
To be short, we haue two things to consider in Gods word, the one is his infinite goodnesse, in that he commeth downe to vs, and becōmeth familiar with vs, and (as yee would say) dandleth vs, and speaketh to vs as kindly as a nurse woulde speake to her babe. Seeing then that God doth so fashion himselfe to our small capacitie; wee ought of right to loue well his worde. But yet therewithall let vs marke also, that hee will not bereaue himselfe of his right, that hee should not continue King for euer, and wee tremble vnder him, and bee subiect to his lawes and commandements. Thus the thing which we haue in effect to beare in mind, is that Gods word ought to bee as sweete to vs as honie, and as precious as Gold and Siluer, as Dauid speaketh thereof.