A17698:922
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.
Howbeit there is yet one point more, concerning Gods ordaining of this monument to put the Jews in remembrance, That they had bent as wretched bondslaves in the land of Egypt. And we know that they were naughtily and cruelly handled there. Now forasmuch as they would fain have bin borne withal in the case, and God hearkened to them when they sighed and gro•ed:1 therefore doeth he tell them, that they also ought to do the like to others. And this containeth a good lesson: which is, that if we consider our selves, we may continually be induced to discharge our duties. On the contrary part, if we be cruel towards our neighbours: it is because we be (as ye would say) besotted in our own ease, & think not upon our wretchedness & misery. He that hath suffered hunger and thirst, because he hath longed to be succoured at his need, will think thus with himself when he sees a poor man: Go to, I my self have been in the like necessity, and I would have bin glad to have bin succoured, & me thought that other men ought to have had pity upon me to relieve me. Now (say I) if a man bethink him of such things when he beholdeth a poor man in need: will it not make his heart to relent? Yes verily: but what for that? When we be at our ease, we think no more upon our humane wretchedness: but rather we imagine that we be exempted, and that we be no more of the common sort. And that causeth us to forget our selves, so as we have no more compassion of our neighbours, nor of any thing that they endure. Therefore have we so much the more need to mark this matter: namely, that because our Lord seeth us blinded with self-love, so as it is enough for us to welter in pleasure, & we never think upon such as are in distress & necessity: therefore he showeth us [our state, saying:] who be you? Were ye never in any adversity▪ Yea & though ye happen to overshoe your selves towards them: do ye not bethink your selves again [and say▪] Lo, these are creatures shaped after the image of God, & if we misuse them, God will have no pity upon us? And so let us practise this doctrine all our life long. Therefore whensoever we see any folk pinched with adversity, let us call our selves to remembrance in this wise▪ Have not I bin in need as well as they? And if I were in like taking again, would I not be glad to be succoured?