A17698:686
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.
If we be once gone astray, GOD shall never get us home again, till he have throughly tamed us. True it is that he could go another way to work, and it is not for that he is unable to reclaim us by his holy spirit, if he listed: but he intendeth to show us what our lewdness is, and that is the cause why he useth these inferior means. This is the first point which we have to mark upon this place.
If wee be once gone astray, GOD shall neuer get vs home againe, till hee haue throughly tamed vs. True it is that hee coulde goe another way to worke, and it is not for that he is vnable to reclayme vs by his holy spirite, if hee listed: but hee intendeth to shewe vs what our lewdenesse is, and that is the cause why he vseth these inferiour meanes. This is the first poynt which we haue to marke vppon this place.
And hereunto answereth that which is written in the second of Hosea:1 for there our Lord complaineth of the Jews, saying that they be like a harlot that hath forsaken her husband, and given over her self to all comers, bearing her self in hand that she is best at ease when she may receive rewards, and be catching and snatching on all sides: so that (to her seeming) if she were an honest wife, she should be fain to be contented with a little, whereas now being a strumpet, she eateth of the daintiest morsels, and hath store of presents brought her. God therefore saith that the Jews were in the same taking, when they were in love with their idols, and in the mean time fathered all their good things upon them. What shall I do now, saith the Lord? When ye say, it is our idols that give us meat and drink: ye be unthankful unto me: for ye have received all these things at my hand. Now therefore I must be fain to bereave you of them. I will take away the bread and wine wherewith ye have bin sustained, and your wool and flax & all other things. I will bring you out (saith he) into the wilderness, I will make you to pine away there, ye shall be like a wretched harlot, which after she hath played the naughtipacke, and hath run gadding here and there, and in the end hath bin driven to eat her own dung and filth, is rejected of all men, and dyeth for hunger and thirst, not having wherewith to cover her shame. Thus will I handle you (saith he:) and then shall ye find that there is nothing better than to stick to me. Ye shall say, Alas where is my husband that dealt so gently with me? I must be fain to return to him. By this similitude the prophet doth us to understand, that when men give themselves to lewdness, and do not serve and honour GOD, after he hath given them his word: they must be reformed by force. And why? For as long as they live at their ease, they forget themselves, they flatter themselves, they be proud, and think they may even despise God. For when God pincheth us not, nor maketh us to feel his strong hand: we take occasion thereat to sooth our selves in our vices, so that we have need (as I said afore) to be reformed by Gods striking upon us with main blows. For if he dally with us, it will breed our destruction and decay. And surely there is not a notabler point than this: