A17698:1105
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.
And to the end that the things which I have declared heretofore may be the certainer: let us bear in mind how it is said here, Was there ever man that heard the voice of the living God, and continued still alive? Here it is showed us that the people of Israel spake not in their name only: but as it were for all mankind in common. They say not only, who are we, but what is all flesh? And in deed, (as I said at the first,) it must needs be that men are besotted, when they cannot humble themselves. For they need no more but to look to their own state and to say, what are we? There is nothing neither in our bodies nor in our souls, but all manner of frailty, (I mean not, as we may be considered in our nature as we were first created:1) But now being fallen as we be,2 what are we but as water that glideth away, & as a smoke that vanisheth away? Nay, which worse is, we be enemies to god, and he must needs be against us, because he findeth nothing in us but sin and frowardness. And therefore when we be tickled with our fond lusts, so as we would fain that God should work miracles, and that we might hear Angels from heaven: let us repair to that which is told us here, and say, What is all flesh? Let us (say I) enter into consideration to see what we be: and our own unabilitie will teach us sufficiently, to praise God for not making us to feel his presence to consume us and confound us: but to make us feel it in such wise as it may draw us to him with amiable gentleness, by hearing men like our selves, and our own brethren speaking as it were in his person.
And to the end that the thinges which I haue declared heretofore may bee the certainer: let vs beare in minde how it is said here, Was there euer man that heard the voyce of the liuing God, and continued still aliue? Here it is shewed vs that the people of Israel spake not in their name onely: but as it were for all mankinde in common. They say not onely, who are wee, but what is all flesh? And in deede, (as I saide at the first,) it must needes bee that men are besotted, when they cannot humble themselues. For they neede no more but to looke to their owne state and to say, what are wee? There is nothing neither in our bodyes nor in our soules, but all maner of frailtie, (I mean not, as we may be considered in our nature as we were first created:1