A17698:1129
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 whereas he termeth it a way, it is to the end to exhort us to keep us in it, according as we shall see in the end of this book, where Moses will say,1 This is the way, walk therein. As if he should say, whosoever turneth away from the doctrine that I set before you, goeth astray, he doth but run gadding over the fields, and yet for all that he cometh never the nearer his §20ways end, but rather is still further and further from it. Therefore in this place, walk in the way is as much to say, as wander not ye wretches wilfully, go not astray. Sith your God is your guide, you cannot go amiss in following him. But if you follow your own head: in the end God must be fain to show you, that ye shall be no better than stray beasts, and that ye have not held the right way. Know ye therefore that Gods doctrine is your way. If this saying §30were well printed in our minds, we should be hold so in awe, as our itching appetites should not be able to make us run astray as we do, but our life should be restrained by it. For God showeth us daily which is the way, & yet notwithstanding men dispute & make much questioning with What is to be done? & what is to be done? Verily as who should say it were not told us, that God never openeth his mouth, but it is to show us the right way. And seeing he showeth it us, do §40not we offer him wrong and injury if we follow it not? Do we not blame him as though he had lost his time & travel about us? Now we see what this word way importeth: that is to wit, that out of Gods doctrine there is nothing but error and deceit, and that men beguile themselves when they think they do well, furtherforth than when they suffer themselves to be ruled by gods word, which showeth us the good and right way.
And whereas hee termeth it a way, it is to the ende to exhort vs to keepe vs in it, according as we shal see in the ende of this booke, where Moses will say,1 This is the way, walke therein. As if he should say, whosoeuer turneth away from the doctrine that I set before you, goeth astray, hee doth but runne gadding ouer the fields, and yet for all that hee commeth neuer the neerer his