A17698:1143
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.
wherein Moses declareth, that to serve god well, first we must give our hearts unto him, so as it sufficeth not to have all the virtues that can be imagined to outward show, unless a virtuous mind go before them: & secondly that the fear of God is no secret or idle thing, but that although it be enclosed in mens harts, yet nevertheless it must show it self in their lives: for it is the heart that governeth both the hands and the feet and all that ever is besides. Therefore if we fear God, we must learn to show it by our deeds and by proof, even by framing our life according to his will.
wherin Moses declareth, that to serue god well, first we must giue our hearts vnto him, so as it sufficeth not to haue all ye vertues yt can be imagined to outward shew, vnlesse a vertuous mind go before them: & secondly that the feare of God is no secret or ydle thing, but yt although it bee inclosed in mens harts, yet neuertheles it must shew it self in their liues: for it is the heart that gouerneth both the hands and the feete and all that euer is besides. Therefore if wee feare God, we must learne to shew it by our deeds and by proofe, euen by framing our life according to his will.
Now hereupon we may gather, that God disalloweth all that ever men can do, when they ⟨p. 267⟩turn away from his word. As for example, the Papists are always serving of God (as they themselves say): but in the mean season what do they? They take much pain, but they be never a whit the forwarder, because they have nothing among them but mens inventions. Their serving of God, is to biblebable or to kneel down before puppets or idols, to scud from altar to altar, to cause Masses to be chanted, to gad on pilgrimage, to fast such a day in §10the honour of such a saint, and to eat no flesh upon fridays and saturdays. To be short, it is a gulf of all baggage, covered with the name and title of Gods service. But shall ye find that ever God uttered one word or syllable concerning such things? No. It was every whit of it devised by men. Now let us consider by this text, whether God accepteth such service for good and lawful. Nay contrariwise he saith, thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and keep