A17698:108
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.
To be short, it should seem that men intended to thrust God out of his seat, when they set his enemies in it after that sort, & such as despise him, & such as seek nothing else but to tread his name & Majesty under their feet. When men deal so, is it any wonder that God sendeth such disorder into the world as we see there is? Now then, it standeth us so much the more on hand to mark well this doctrine, where it is said that when God giveth a people liberty to choose officers, they must not abuse it, but must use discretion in choosing of them. Yea and forasmuch as we may often times be deceived, it behooveth us to resort unto God, that he may give us discretion & govern us with his holy spirit, as though he had pointed them out with his finger whom w• ought to choose. And that is the cause why I said that elections shall never be well ordered, except God overrule them by his holy spirit.
To be short, it should seeme that men intended to thrust God out of his seat, when they set his enemies in it after that sort, & such as despise him, & such as seeke nothing else but to treade his name & Maiestie vnder their feete. When men deale so, is it any wonder that God sendeth such disorder into the world as wee see there is? Now then, it standeth vs so much ye more on hand to marke wel this doctrine, where it is saide that when God giueth a people libertie to choose officers, they must not abuse it, but must vse discretion in choosing of them. Yea and forasmuch as we may often times be deceiued, it behooueth vs to resort vnto God, yt he may giue vs discretion & gouerne vs with his holy spirite, as though he had poynted them out with his finger whom w• ought to choose. And yt is the cause why I said yt elections shal neuer be wel ordered, except God ouerrule them by his holy spirit.
Last of all Moses saith, I will set them over you to rule you. He showeth that God had given him authority, & yet a man may see y• he imparted it unto the people, & showed by his doings, as we have seen afore, that he challenged not to himself an inordinate power, but acknowledged that God had bound him to the common weal. So then, Moses hath authority & knows well enough that Gods will was to prefer him above the rest of the people, & yet doth not he abuse his right for all that, but referreth all unto the people. As if he should say, I will but only show the way how to guide, and in so doing I will take the pain to my self, as for the honour, I give it over unto you. And the same mind ought to be in all good magistrates and governors of people, that they may be able to maintain the authority that is requisite: for even to that end also hath God set them up. But howsoever the world go, let them not seek their own profit, but let them endeavour to make themselves fit ministers as near as is possible, always maintaining the chief charge that is committed unto them.