A17698:843
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.
On the contrary part, whereas he punisheth the sins of the fathers upon the children: it is as much to say, as he letteth their offspring alone in the same plight that they be in. There is a wicked man, there is a despiser of GOD, there is an hypocrite, there is an unbeliever: well may he have children, but God careth not for them (as ye would say) and taketh them as strangers: and forasmuch as he acknowledgeth them not to be of the number of his, he vouchsafeth not to show himself father like towards them, but letteth them run at rovers, so as Satan must needs possess them. And when they be so destitute of Gods spirit, what can betide them but utter mischief, so as they must provoke him to wrath more and more? Now then doeth our Lord punish them without cause? Can they say that they be guiltless? No: for there is fault enough in them beforehand. We see then much better, that the thing which God hath spoken by Ezekiel is true: that is to wit, that the party which hath sinned shall receive his own hire as he deserveth: and that the guiltless shall not be punished for the guilty and for the offenders sake. Nevertheless we see also, that his saying that he will punish the sin of the fathers upon their children, is not without cause. For why? It is in him to withhold his grace from the children of the wicked and faithless, or of the despisers of his ⟨p. 191⟩word, or of hypocrites that abuse his name: God is at free liberty to withdraw his spirit from all the whole race of them. And when their children are so alienated from God: what have they, but the corruption of Adam? There is nothing in them but sin and corruption,1 and therefore they must needs be enemies unto God. Ye see then how he punisheth them justly, and that they cannot shift themselves from his hand, to say that he doeth them §10wrong, or that he is cruel to them. All mouths must be stopped in that behalf. True it is that the rebellious sort will never be contented: for we see how there are some, which advance themselves against God with such boldness, as all modest and sober folk may be ashamed of them. But let us suffer those dogs to bark their fill, and let us in the mean while glorify our God with all lowliness, acknowledging nevertheless that he hath authority and good right §20to be gracious and favourable to whom he listeth.