A17698:4560
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.
Yesterday in the blessing of Joseph, we saw how Moses referred all things to Gods grace, which men are commonly wont to attribute unto fortune. And it is a doctrine well worthy to be marked because of our unthankfulness. For unless we be enforced to acknowledge Gods goodness, it shall always lye buried for us, and we seek things here below to busy our wits upon; in so much that when God shall have given §50us never so sufficient occasion to magnify his grace; yet do we make none account of it. Therefore it behooveth us to be warned to lift up our wits and minds aloft, that we may do homage unto God, for all the benefits which we receive at his hand. Also we have to mark herein the thing that is set down by Moses. He sayeth that all the good which Joseph and all his whole Image shall have, shall come of the free favour of him which dwelt in the bush. §60And no doubt but that thereby he meaneth God. Why then doeth he mention the bush here? For at the first sight it seemeth a fond thing, & serving to no purpose but to lead the ignorant and the weaklings into superstition. We know that the holy scripture speaking of God, saith that he dwelleth in heaven.1 Not that his majesty is enclosed there: for his being is infinite; it containeth all creatures, as is said in other texts.2 But this word Heaven serveth to pluck us from the world, when we think upon God, to the intent that when we go about to worship him, we imagine not any earthliness in him, but consider that he surmounteth all things, and that we ought to think of him far otherwise than we can conceive. Now seeing that the holy Scripture pitcheth Gods tent in heaven, to the end we should be lifted up above all the world & above all creatures when we think upon him: why doeth Moses in this place set him in the Bush? It is because God had there showed himself unto him. And it behooveth us to note that there are two diverse fashions of speaking in the holy scripture, when God calleth us unto him. Nevertheless, this diversity is not to draw us into contrary opinions: they meet both in one. As how?
YEsterday in the blessing of Ioseph, we saw how Moses referred all things to Gods grace, which men are cōmonly wont to attribute vnto fortune. And it is a doctrine well worthie to be marked because of our vnthankfulnes. For vnlesse wee bee enforced to acknowledge Gods goodnes, it shall alwayes lye buryed for vs, and wee seeke things here belowe to busie our wits vpon; in so much that when God shall haue giuen