A17698:4599
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.
After that Moses hath spoken of Dan, he addeth concerning Naphtali, that he shall have §30even his fill of Favour, or of good will, or of free good will: for the Hebrew word signifieth Freebestowed love. Then shall he have his fill of Gods free favour, & be replenished with the blessing of the Lord.1 Now as concerning Naphtali, it is said in Jacobs blessing of him, that he shall be as a hind that can skill to scape danger, a fine Hind that is brought up daintily, & that shall give goodly words, such as will well content men. Hereby Jacob meant to betoken §40that this tribe should not be so greatly troubled with war as the other tribes were: but that it should maintain it self after another fashion, namely by being mild and amiable, & that his speech should be full of gentleness and courtesy, and that no man should molest him. And in steed hereof it is said in this place, that Naphtali shall have his fill of Gods free favour. The state of this tribe then was better than the state of Dan or of Gad who had enemies,§50 and were continually assailed, because God had not given them a peaceable state. Now we know that all the riches of the world, & all that ever we can desire besides is nothing worth; if we enjoy them not in peace. To be short, the chief good thing that men can wish, is to be void of grief and mistrust. This is promised to the tribe of Nepthalim, at leastwise in comparison of the other tribes. Not that that country also was not wasted in the end because of the unthankfulness of the people.§60 But God showeth here, that whereas he intended to stablish the people of Israel he would give unto every of them his portion, & the blessings which he would bestow upon them should be divers; accordingly as we know well, that he dealeth not alike with all men, no not even with his own children, whom he hath chosen. Albeit that he love them all, and be father in common to them all; yet doeth he handle them diversly. After the same sort was it with this people. Here then we see as in a mirror, that God is not bound to govern his Church after such a sort, that every faithful man should have the same thing that the others have. For God knoweth what is meet for us. One is handled after one fashion, [and another after another.] And doth God (saith some man) take pleasure in such variety?