A17698:4663
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.
but he showeth that our sorrowing must be moderated, because God giveth us comfort by calling us to the hope of the heavenly life, wherein we shall be renewed. So then let us understand that GOD humbleth us by death, and that we must go into corruption like stinking carrions, yea and even our souls must seem to vanish away, and that all shall be forlorn. Now although we must needs be sorrowful when we consider these things and specially our sins; yet (I say) we must ever come back to this point, that God of his infinite goodness pitieth us still, and will not have us to perish in death, but rather that it be unto us a passage into the everlasting life. And this hope is enough to comfort us in the midst of all our heaviness: at leastwise it ought to be a bridle to restrain our sorrowing that it pass not the bounds, and so we fall to fretting against God as we see the unbelievers do, who storm and howl and yell, and cannot by any means be held in order. And why? Because they have no comfort, which is the mother of patience. But forasmuch as God calleth us to the hope which he giveth us; therefore after we have wept and mourned, we have wherefore to give him thanks, to bless his holy name, and to con tent our selves that he useth not extreme rigour against us. Now then, although we weep when we see that our Lord hath taken those from us which might have stood us in great stead: yet must we not fall into despair, as though God had no way to succour us. For he can raise up even the stones, if he think it good. Therefore we must resort unto him when we perceive any sign of his wrath; and when we have acknowledged our sins, and asked forgiveness of them at his hand; we must also wait his leisure until he show us favour, that in finding mercy we may also find remedy of all our griefs. Thus the measure which he speaketh of, is that having sorrowed to a good end, because our Lord hath taken such folk out of the world, as we ought to long for & desire; we must also have some stay of our selves, & not be carried away to fretting & chafing in our sorrow: but rather assuage our sorrows, because we know that when God hath chastised us; he will moderate his mighty hand, and not stretch it out to the full against us, but chastise ⟨p. 1243⟩us with the rod of man,1 as is said thereof. Sith we see this, let us learn to comfort our selves and be patient.