A17698:637
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 surely (as I said) there is not a treasure that deserveth greater estimation, than the growing of corn, and wine in the world, & the increase of cloth & other things that serve for mans use, together with the fruition of all the other creatures whereof god hath given us the sight & hearing, to enjoy them all in such wise, as we may say, that the world is created for us, & that our God will not have us destitute of any thing at all, but hath provided for all our need, and showeth himself so liberal to us, as we have indeed just cause to magnify him, & to be ravished with wonderment at the sight of so great goodness. This then is the cause why Moses saith here namely, but as for thee. After he had generally declared y• god causeth his mercy to extend even to the infidels & unbelievers: now speaking to the chosen people, O (sayeth he) you have a state of preeminence▪ you have a much more singular privilege then the ignorant & blind wretches have. For why? They wot not by what title they possess the good things which they have. But your God will have the world to belong by right unto you: for as all the faithful are his ⟨p. 142⟩children, so be they heirs of his good things likewise. Therefore we must conclude, that if the unbelievers be to be condemned for abusing the benefits which God hath bestowed upon them: much less excuse is there for us that are taught in his law and doctrine. Thus ye see what we have to mark.
And surely (as I said) there is not a treasure that deserueth greater estimation, thā ye growing of corne, and wine in the world, & the increase of cloth & other things yt serue for mans vse, together with the fruition of al the other creatures wherof god hath giuen vs the sight & hearing, to inioy them al in such wise, as we may say, yt the world is created for vs, & that our God will not haue vs destitute of any thing at all, but hath prouided for all our neede, and sheweth himselfe so liberall to vs, as we haue indeede iust cause to magnifie him, & to be rauished with wondermēt at the sight of so great goodnes. This thē is the cause why Moses saith here namely, but as for thee. After he had generally declared y• god causeth his mercie to extende euen to the infidels & vnbeleeuers: nowe speaking to the chosen people, O (saieth he) you haue a state of preheminence you haue a much more singular priuiledge then ye ignorant & blind wretches haue. For why? They wote not by what title they possesse the good thinges which they haue. But your God wil haue the world to belong by right vnto you: for as all the faithfull are his