A17698:1090
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.
We be of opinion, that where as God causeth his word to be preached unto us by the means of men, if he spake to us in his own majesty, or sent some Angel to appear unto us, we would be the better touched, and all the world §10would be converted by and by, and every man obey without gain saying or rebelling: but we know not what is for our own benefit and behoof. For if we look upon our own frailty: it is not possible that God should make us feel his power, but it should be to our utter undoing and destruction. Now therefore when men are desirous that God should come down from heaven, or manifest himself by some visible token: they know not what they be, nor how §20frail their state is. For did they well consider it, they would be aghast at Gods infinite glory, knowing well that they were not able to abide it. Besides this, let us assure our selves that God tendereth our welfare and salvation, in showing us his will by the mouth of men, when he ordaineth and appointeth them to be ministers of his word, to bring us such message as he knoweth to be for our benefit. Nevertheless, it was his pleasure to avow it by open §30proof to mens faces, that it is not good for them to hear his voice thunder from heaven. And that is the cause why he thought good to give forth his law, not simply by Moses, but by coming down in his own person, as I have declared already, and as I told you yesterday that the lightnings and whirlwinds, and the flaming of the fire, and all that is written in the nineteenth and twentieth chapters of Exodus,1 was done every whit of it to the end that the people §40of Israel should learn to yield reverence to Gods word. And this lesson belongeth to us also. For Gods intent was that the remembrance of those things should endure for ever, and that they should be put in ure continually. So then, we see here that God hath uttered his glorious majesty once for all, to teach us to receive his word with all reverence and lowliness.
WEe bee of opinion, that where as God causeth his worde to be preached vnto vs by ye meanes of men, if he spake to vs in his owne maiestie, or sent some Angell to appeare vnto vs, wee would bee the better touched, and all the world §10