A17698:1156
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.
Now then, as oft as this word God cometh to our mind, let us assure ourselves that it serveth to cut off all toys that may come in our heads, and all inventions of men, and all other things whereof we have not warrant in the holy scriptures. For God will have us to consider him in such wise, as we snarl not ourselves in the imaginations and errors of idolatry. And of a truth, we cannot have the true God, except we have him alone: that is to say, without adding any companion unto him. For as soon as we fall to bringing in of undergods, we forsake the living God. And why? Because his will is to be alone, as he avoweth in another place by his Prophet Isaiah saying,1 I am the living God (sayeth the Lord) and I will not give my glory to any other. Again we have seen heretofore how he called himself a jealous God. And why was that, but to withdraw us from all corruptions,2 as S. Paul affirmeth in the second to the Corinthians? For as soon as we be turned aside from the simplicity of Gods word, it is all one as if a wife should hearken to a bawd that came to whisper her in the ear. By and by we be corrupted, and so we commit foul whoredom against God, when we falsify the faith that we have plighted him in Baptism. We cast away his law, and stain all religion, when we swerve never so little from the pure Religion. Wherefore let us bear well in mind, that as oft as this word God cometh to our remembrance, God must be all alone. And if we accompany him with any creatures: he forsaketh us as backsliders, and as folk unworthy to have any thing to do with him, because we vouchsafed not to yield him his deserved honour: that is to wit, to take him for our [only] Lord, but have unhallowed that name by imparting the same to creatures, or rather to our own dreams.
Nowe then, as oft as this word God commeth to our minde, let vs assure ourselues that it serueth to cut off all toyes that may come in our heades, and all inuentions of men, and all other things whereof we haue not warrant in the holy scriptures. For God will haue vs to consider him in such wise, as wee snarle not ourselues in the imaginations and errours of idolatrie. And of a truth, we cannot haue the true God, except wee haue him alone: that is to say, without adding any companion vnto him. For as soone as we fall to bringing in of vndergoddes, we forsake the liuing God. And why? Bicause his will is to bee alone, as he auoweth in another place by his Prophet Esay saying,