A17698:98
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.
Now there is also an other evil extremity, which is, that when men see themselves to be very frail, they become fainthearted and thereupon, if God call them to any office of charge, they pluck back their necks because they see the burden cumbersome for them, and would fain shake off the yoke, and shun the vocation §50that God calleth them unto. That is a vice whereof we must beware. But there is a mean between both, which is, when we see that the cumbersomeness thereof passeth our power: then to take as much thereof as we be able to bear, measuring our selves by our own span, and moreover to pray unto God to make us meet to go through with the things that shall be commanded us. Those are the things that are showed us here by the example of Moses. For he §60did not fling away the government of the people: because that in so doing he should have bin a rebel against God. We see how God dealt with Jonah, for he overtook him though he fled away. Therefore we must not refuse to obey God under pretence of our own feebleness, though the charges or offices which he allotteth unto us be so troublesome, that we must be fain to groan under them. Whatsoever come of it, let us hold this rule: namely to submit our selves to Gods calling, and to follow him whither soever he will have us. And above all things let us pray unto him to supply our wants: and in the mean time let us not take too much upon us, but let us measure our charge by our ability.
Nowe there is also an other euill extremitie, which is, that when men see themselues to be very fraile, they become faintharted and thereupon, if God call them to anie office of charge, they plucke backe their neckes because they see the burthen cumbersome for them, and woulde faine shake off the yoke, and shun the vocation §50that God calleth them vnto. That is a vice whereof we must beware. But there is a meane betweene both, which is, when we see that the cumbersomnesse thereof passeth our power: then to take as much thereof as we be able to beare, measuring our selues by our owne span, and moreouer to pray vnto God to make vs meete to go through with the thinges that shall be commaunded vs. Those are the thinges that are shewed vs here by the example of Moses. For he §60did not fling away the gouernement of the people: because that in so doing he should haue bin a rebell against God. We see how God delt with Ionas, for he ouertooke him though he fled away. Therefore we must not refuse to obey God vnder pretence of our owne feeblenesse, though the charges or offices which he allotteth vnto vs be so troublesome, that we must be faine to grone vnder them. Whatsoeuer come of it, let vs hold this rule: namely to submit our selues to Gods calling, and to followe him whither soeuer he will haue vs. And aboue all thinges let vs pray vnto him to supply our wantes: and in the meane time let vs not take too much vpon vs, but let vs measure our charge by our abilitie.