A17698:4659
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 is to wit, that at the age of Sixscore years, there was in him still all that ever was requisite in so difficult and weighty a charge as we know was committed unto him. True it is that he had Judges with him;1 but yet for all that, no one man, no nor a dozen men had been able to have gone through with that charge, though they had bin chosen of the excellentest men in the world. Needs must it be then that God aided him. Now whereas in so old age men are wont to be drooping and half dead, or at leastwise in such case as they can scarcely crawl, and are half doted, and yet Moses continueth still in his perfect state: therein it appeareth that God had compassion of his people. And this is expressly declared that the children of Israel should know that God never forsook them; & that although they had grievously offended him, and were worthy to be cut off from his house, and to be stripped out of his gracious gifts; yet he meant not to use such rigour: for he reserved Moses, and gave him wherewith to go through with his charge continually. To be short, in this text it is showed us, that if God give us such men to be our guides as behave themselves faithfully, and have ability matched with their will, and that they be maintained to do their office to the full: it behoveth us, to perceive therein, that God hath pity upon us and we must acknowledge such a benefit, unless we will be condemned of unthankfulness.
that is to wit, that at the age of Sixscore yeeres, there was in him still all that euer was requisite in so difficult and weightie a charge as wee knowe was committed vnto him. True it is that he had Iudges with him;1 but yet for all that, no one man, no nor a doosen men had beene able to haue gone through with that charge, though they had bin chosen of the excellentest men in the worlde. Needs must it be thē that God aided him. Now whereas in so old age men are wont to be drooping and halfe dead, or at leastwise in such case as they can scarsly crawle, and are halfe doted, and yet Moses continueth still in his perfect state: therein it appeareth that God had compassion of his people. And this is expresly declared that the children of Israel shoulde knowe that God neuer forsooke them; & that although they had grieuously offended him, and were worthy to be cut off from his house, and to bee stripped out of his gratious giftes; yet he ment not to vse such rigour: for hee reserued Moses, and gaue him wherwith to go through with his charge continually. To be short, in this text it is shewed vs, that if God giue vs such men to bee our guides as behaue themselues faithfully, and haue abilitie matched with their will, and that they bee maintained to doe their office to the full: it behoueth vs, to perceiue therin, that God hath pitie vppon vs and we must acknowledge such a benefite, vnlesse we wil be condemned of vnthankfulnesse.