A17698:542
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.
Now remaineth to apply this gear to our use. When God sendeth any trouble upon the world: let us understand that it is not without cause that he is so sore displeased. For if we consider the offences and misdeeds that have been committed: we must needs conclude that God showeth himself a judge in punishing sins. But doeth that serve only for them that feel the strokes? No: Gods will is to show his just vengeance generally, that men may learn to stoop to him, and to walk in fear of him, and to give themselves no more to provoking of him. To be short, all the chastisements that we see ⟨p. 117⟩in the world, ought to serve for our learning: according to this saying of the Prophet Isaiah,1 O Lord, when thou executest thy judgements, the dwellers of the earth shall learn righteousness. For when God winketh, and punisheth not the wicked and unrighteous: men take leave to do evil, it seemeth that all things should scape unpunished, and every man beareth with himself, accordingly as all of us are naturally too much inclined to flatter our selves in §10our sins. But when we perceive that GOD calleth mens sins to account, and that all things are enrolled before him, he showeth him self a judge in punishing men, whereas they thought they had been forgotten: then behold, we be wakened, so as every of us begins to bethink himself, or at leastwise it were good reason that he should do so. True it is that Gods judgements do sometimes pass before our eyes, and we make none account of them, by §20means whereof we can fare never the better for them: but unhappy are we when we be so blind. And why? For (as I said) Gods intent is that other men should take example, by his chastising of those that have offended. Yea and even the worldly judges observe the same order, insomuch that when they punish a thief, or a murderer, or any other evil doer, they do it not alonely to be revenged of the evil that he hath done as in respect of himself: but also to set him §30forth as a looking-glass, to the intent that all other folks should set a watch over themselves, and abhor such crimes, and not suffer them to have their full course and scope. And think we that God goeth yet any further? So then, let us suffer our selves to be amended at other mens cost, and let us have our eyes open to behold the punishment so that he sendeth.