A17698:1123
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 herewithall let us mark also, that God meant to hold the preachers of his word in such awe, as they should not presume to put forth any thing of their own,1 but be contented to be faithful setters forth of the things that he commandeth, so as they may always protest, that they have served god in executing his commandment, and in delivering it forth from hand to hand. This is a thing which we have to mark, we (I say) whom God hath appointed his ministers to preach his word, and to whom he hath committed the office of teaching▪ namely that we add not aught of our own devising, but deliver the thing simply which we know to be proceeded from God.
And herewithall let vs marke also, that God ment to holde the preachers of his word in such awe, as they shoulde not presume to put forth any thing of their owne,1 but be contented to bee faithfull setters forth of the things that he commaundeth, so as they may alwayes protest, that they haue serued god in executing his commaundement, and in deliuering it foorth from hand to hand. This is a thing which wee haue to marke, we (I say) whom God hath appointed his ministers to preach his worde, and to whom hee hath committed the office of teaching▪ namely that we adde not aught of our owne deuising, but deliuer the thing simply which we knowe to bee proceeded from God.
And to the end that folk should know that God meant not to teach them by halves: he rehearseth the thing again which we have seen heretofore namely his statutes, ordinances, commandments and Ceremonies. As if he should say there wanteth not any thing in his doctrine, neither ought the people to covet any thing more. This hath been declared more at large already. Notwithstanding, whensoever God useth such diversity of words to us, whereas he might say in one word the Law: let us mark, that it serveth to restrain men the better from fond curiosity of adding any thing to his law, as the thing which we see we be too much given unto by nature, forasmuch as our flesh provoketh us continually to invent, I know not what new thing. And that is the cause why in popery every man hath adventured to cast to his collop, & to make so many laws one upon another. For why? They thought it not enough to live plainly according to gods word, but that it would be good to ad still some mingle-mangle. But contrariwise God telleth us that if we have his law, we have statutes, commandments, ordinances and rites enow: as if he should say that mortal men ought not to stand so much in their own conceits, as to