A17698:470
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.
Yet notwithstanding we have to mark, that when Moses desired God that he might go over Jordan: he did it not wilfully of purpose to disobey God. For he had humbly received the condemnation that we saw, whereby GOD had banished him from entering into the lande• of promise: but as now we forgetteth himself, and this escapeth from him. When as we see this, let us mark that we had need to be so much the more diligent in examining our own wishes, to wit whether they be conformable to Gods will, and squared throughout by the rule of his word or no. For we may well protest that our intent is to be subject to God, and we may well say it without dissimulation: but yet in the mean time we shall not cease to be entangled in wandering imaginations, and our wits shall vanish away. If Moses being a man wholly bent to obey GOD, were so far overseen, as to confound himself in his own request: what shall we do? For we have a great sort of thick and dark clouds, which dim our ⟨p. 100⟩•ight that we cannot see clear. And therefore let us sharpen our wits, that we may consider what is lawful for us to demand with godliness, and what liketh God according as he shall have declared it unto us. Thus ye see what we have to bear in mind. And if we chance at any time to overshoot our selves th•ough heat, and to require the thing which we cannot tell whether we should obtain or no: let us by and by correct it with this §10addition, My God, thy will be done. As for example, A man hath his child or his wife sick, or he is in some other perplexity: Alas my God (saith he), and he casteth forth some vehement affection, ah my God, wilt not thou pity me? must I be thus afflicted with extremity? Well, when he hath made this request, he must acknowledge that there is a fault in it. And let us not excuse our selves by saying, As for me, I never meant to withstand God or his §20will: but when we once know the fault, let us go and add this correction, Alas my God, indeed such is my desire, that thou knowest to what end it is: but yet for all that, it becometh me to yield thee thy principal service which thou preferrest before all others: that is to wit, obedience, so as I humble my self wholly in this case under thy hand. Even so Lord, dispose thou of me and of all mine at thine own pleasure.