A17698:1078
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 let us come to that which Moses addeth. He saith, that the law was written in two tables of stone, and delivered unto him. Whereas §60he speaketh of the two tables:1 we must call to remembrance what hath bin treated of heretofore: namely that God could well have written all his law in one stone: but it was his will to write it in two that the distinction might the better lead us to the understanding of the things contained in the law. For we see that our Lord doth as it were chaw the things to us which are set down there, to the intent we should not allege that he speaketh to high for us. Because there are two principal points of our life: our Lord hath divided his law into two tables, of purpose to make us to know how we should behave our selves towards him, and also how we ought to live with our neighbours. Is a man desirous to rule his life aright in all perfection? First he must give himself to the serving of God, so as he be sure what things God requireth and alloweth: and secondly he must live so uprightly and evenly with his neighbours, as he may show by his doings that he is the very child of God. The first point then is, to know how God will be honoured at our hands: and the second is to yield our neighbours their dues, and to keep this indifferency of nature, of doing nothing to another,2 which we would not have done to our selves. So then, in the one table God hath showed how he himself will be served, accordingly as I have told you already that he did set himself alone there, to the intent that men should not invent new Gods: declaring therewithal that he will not be resembled by any images or puppets: but that forasmuch as he is a spirit,3 he will have us to serve him spiritually, and not to devise one thing or other on our own heads, but to yield him spiritual service: & more over that he will have his name sanctified, by our exercising of our selves in his word, & specially by forbearing [our own wits,4] & by renouncing our own imaginations & affections, so as we rest from our own doings, to suffer our selves to be governed of God. These are the things contained in the first table. As touching the second, we have seen how he commanded us there, to honour our father & our mother, and how he forbade us murder, whoredom, theft, evil speech, & all manner of wicked lusting or coveting.