A17698:493
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.
Therefore must we bear this lesson so in mind, as we may be able to put it in ure: that is to wit, that if we obtain not all that ever we fain would at Gods hand: but §60that when we resort unto him, he suffereth us to linger still in our miseries & easeth us not of our troubles at the first, so as we drag our wings after us as they say: we must bethink us of this, that we must be contented. And why? for it is good reason that we should yield to the good pleasure of our God, seeing he reserveth this inestimable benefit and privilege to us, that we be still mustered in the array of his children.
Therefore must wee beare this lesson so in minde, as wee may bee able to put it in vre: that is to wit, that if wee obteine not all that euer wee faine would at Gods hand: but §60that when we resort vnto him, he suffreth vs to linger stil in our miseries & easeth vs not of our troubles at the first, so as we dragge our winges after vs as they say: we must bethinke vs of this, that wee must be contented. And why? for it is good reason that wee should yeelde to the good pleasure of our God, seeing hee reserueth this inestimable benefite and priuiledge to vs, that wee be still mustered in the aray of his children.
And besides this, let us assure our selves that God furthereth our souls health, in refusing to grant us the things that he knoweth to be unmeet for us. We see that divers times he granted the disobedient their desires:1 but that was not to their benefit. It had bin much better for them to have gone without them, and that God had said them flat nay of them. Contrariwise, when he denieth our requests, and maketh us to perceive that it is not reason that our lusts should range unbridled, and we have all that our fancy runs upon: his making of us to perceive all this, is to our benefit. As for example, if a child have a fickle head, (as commonly all children lack discretion) and desire his father some fond or evil thing: if his father let him have his swing like a goose: he putteth the halter about his neck, by cockering of him too much. But if he show him a grim look, and make him perceive that he is a lightheaded boy, without wit or discretion: his child will be the better for it afterward, and this correction whereby his foolish appetite is repressed, will do him good. Even so doth God towards us: for he knoweth it is much better for us to have our lusts subdued, than to give them too much liberty. And that is the cause why he did so precisely deny Moses request.