A17698:1073
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.
Again moreover, when as our Lord hath applied himself so familiarly unto us: think we he meant to teach us by halves, and to leave us in the middest of our way? No. Then let us remember that seeing God added not any thing after he had once spoken those ten words: it becometh us to yield our selves wholly to the simple doctrine that is contained in his Law, without interlacing of any thing of our own, assuring our selves that our perfect wisdom is to obey our God. Had this bin well observed: we should not be so greatly cumbered nowadays in correcting the corruptions that reign in the world. For whereof came the corruption of Gods religion & service, that is is to be seen in the Popedom? The Papists vaunt they serve God, when they use their kyrieleysons, their holy, holy, holy, their ceremonies & other petty trash. And why? Because they took upon them to add to Gods word, so as they thought it not enough to serve God after his own devising: unless men also did forge what they listed in their own brain. Therefore all that ever is termed by the name of Gods service ⟨p. 250⟩in popery, is but toys of mens invention. And not only so: but also the saying of the prophet is fulfilled in them,1 namely that they have despised Gods commandments, and in the mean while given themselves to their own inventions. The world sees what mischief hath ensued through this devilish malapertness, that men durst disguise Gods word with their own dreams and dotages. So much the more therefore doth it stand us in hand to mark this text where it is §10said, that after GOD had once spoken, he added not any thing to that which he had said. And in deed, (as I said afore) it is an horrible blasphemy, when men take upon them to find some better thing than is contained in Gods law. It is all one as if they would reprove him as a liar, or say he was misadvised, or that he had forgotten what he should have commanded. But can men find any better way? No. Then let us learn to submit our selves in such wise unto §20God, as we may always bear in mind, that when God had once spoken, he made a final end and conclusion, as if he should have said▪ Hold ye there, these are my bounds and lists: whosoever goes any further, he shall break his neck: