A17698:1162
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.
I Began yesterday to tell you wherefore Moses avoweth that There is but only one God: that is §60to wit, because men can never give themselves to the serving of the true God, unless they discern him from all things imagined by the world, For every man forgeth gods at his own pleasure, and the very fountain and wellspring of all superstition and idolatry, is that men cannot be contented with the living God, but give head to their own fancies, and thereupon build a great sort of fables to beguile themselves. Therefore it is requisite before all other things, to know which is the true God, that we may hold our selves wholly unto him, and worship him simply ⟨p. 272⟩without adding any thing at all to his word. For as soon as any thing is mingled thereunto, by and by it is corrupted. And here is express mention made of the God of Israel, because God must needs have manifested himself, or else we could never have known him. For where are the wings wherewith we should fly to so infinite a height, as to comprehend the Majesty of God? But when it pleaseth him to reveal himself to us by his word: it is as though he came down §10to acquaint himself with us: and then do we know him. And this certainty of being fully resolved that we worship not a new forged god, or a god that is brought in by men, but the same God to whom all praise is due: is the very foundation of all Religion. Herewithall let us bear in mind, that he will be worshipped all alone, not only by reserving to himself the name of God: but also by having all that is his, that is to wit, all that belongeth to his Majesty, and as ye §20would say to his office. I speak after this manner, to express the better, that God hath not respect alonely to his being. His will is not that men should only call him the everlasting, or confess him to be the maker of the world: but that they should also know him to be almighty, and that it is he to whom the government of us belongeth, it is he in whom is all virtue, wisdom, goodness, and righteousness, it is he to whom we must run for succour, it is he in §30whom we must put all our trust, it is he to whom we owe all glory.
I Beganne yesterday to tell you wherefore Moses auoweth that There is but onely one God: that is