A17698:543
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.
And now in these days, must it not needs be that we be worse than asleep, if we be not moved at §40the great number of corrections that God sendeth? We see how the whole world is in manner past recovery, and (as the Prophet Isaiah sayeth) there is not one whit of soundness from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot:1 Gods scourges run abroad every where: every man complaineth, great and small lament: On the one side we see wars, famine, and pestilence, (and those things happen not by casualty:) and on the other side every man bewaileth §50his own private case. And why so? Wherefore do we not know the hand that striketh us? Wherefore do we not consider that God showeth himself a judge towards us, to make us return unto him? For mens sins are not unknown, we see well that the whole world is out of order, and that God must be fain to put to his hand. And yet in the mean season we abide still blockish, but we shall be held the less excused for it in the end. And why? For it §60may be told us to our shame, that our eyes have seen how God warned us: it was long of none but our selves that we were not brought to repentance. Seeing that GOD did lay his judgements open to our sight, and we marked them not: we must needs be punished the sorer for such negligence, because we have played the deaf and blind folks, when GOD went about to bring us gently to him. And so the thing that Moses spake to the people of Israel, is written to our use in these days. For it is as much as if the holy Ghost should tell us, that when God punisheth men, be it generally or particularly: we must not be purblind, in that case, but bethink us well and see whether we our selves have not deserved the like: and thereupon be sorry for our sins, and not tarry till God draw his sword against us, but high us apace to him seeing he warneth us to return. And for the performing hereof, let us understand that the calamities which light upon the world, come not by haphazard, but from heaven, and are corrections for the offences where into the world hath overshot it self.
And nowe in these dayes, must it not needes bee that wee be worse than asleepe, if wee bee not mooued at §40the great number of corrections that God sendeth? Wee see howe the whole worlde is in maner past recouerie, and (as the Prophet Esay saieth) there is not one whit of soundnesse from the crowne of the head to the sole of the foote: