A17698:539
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.
God showeth his great goodness in labouring to draw us to him by gentleness: and great also is his grace if he draw us to him by force, when he seeth that we cannot otherwise be subdued. And that is the cause why he not only setteth his promises before us, but also addeth threatenings, showing us his rigour, and making us also to feel it: even to the end to win us by §10some means or other. But yet doeth all this redound to our welfare, and God showeth how much he tendereth us, even in that he is so sharp and rough towards us. For if we could suffer our selves to be led gently by him, surely such is his nature that he would deal that way with us, according to his own saying that he is a kind hearted and pitiful God,1 forward to show mercy, and of long sufferance. When God intendeth to show what good will he beareth us, he §20allegeth all the properties of a good Father. Then will he never use any roughness, unless he be enforced, because he seeth us dull upon the spur, and is fain to prick us, or else we would never go on our way. Therefore when we come to read the holy Scripture, let us always have this before our eyes, that our Lords desire is to draw us to him by gentleness, if we be pliable: and thereupon let us humble our selves unto him, and not look to have him deal roughly §30with us, but follow him quietly as soon as he hath showed us that he is willing to receive us. And if we have bin so far overseen as to have given deaf ear to all his promises, and not to come at his call: at leastwise it were not meet for us to be drowsy still, when he addeth his threatenings to waken us. Therefore let us understand that it is time for us to yield our selves to God then or never. And that is the cause why that in this text, Moses putteth the people in remembrance,§40 of the punishments that God had laid upon such as worshipped the idol of Ammon which was called Beel-phegor. But we have yet one point more to mark, which is, that God spareth us and punisheth others, to the intent we should learn wit at other mens cost, as they say. If God should step to us at the first dash, and correct us as soon as we have done amiss, or tell us that we should look for vengeance at his hand: yet ought we to take it as a token of his fatherly §50