A17698:1179
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.
But by the way we have here to bewail the corruption ⟨p. 276⟩of mankind. For it is manifest, that even of the holyest things in the world, men take occasion to mock God, and to mar all, and to turn them to a contrary end. As how? This saying, Hearken O Israel, the Lord thy God is one only God, is a notable saying, and worthy to be had in remembrance above all others. For it serveth to magnify the living GOD, that he might be discerned from the idols that have bin forged, to the end that our religion might §10be certain and infallible. Then is it as excellent a lesson, as a man shall read any: and yet what have the Jews which were Gods people fared the better for it? They have turned it into a charm and sorcery, imagining that the speaking of those words would make a conjuration, like to the Agnus Dei in poperie, and to such other gewgaws as the papists hang about their necks, in the which Agnus Dei they write the beginning of Saint Johns Gospel and I wot not what else,§20 wherewith they bear themselves in hand that they can conjure both God and the divill. As much have the Jews done with this lesson: insomuch that they have abused even the very letters of it. There is one letter (say they) which importeth four, betokening that God is Lord of the four parts of the world. They have taken othersome according to their numbers and ciphers, to signify things which they have devised of their own brain. And in the mean §30while they had no reverence to God, but would that he should have no more power nor authority over them. And that do they show full well, not only by their despising, shunning, & rejecting of Jesus Christ, who ought to have reigned over them: but also by their crucifying of him in despite of God, and by their turning away from the salvation that had bin promised them. And even as much have they done with this text. For they have turned to pride and §40ambition the thing that is said here, as we see how our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel upbraideth the Scribes and Pharisees with their large guards,1 insomuch that if the common people had any narrow guard of writing, wherein the commandments were set down, these great Rabbis (to the intent to become holier than other men,) had guards of an handbreadth upon their garments, wherein Gods law was written in great letters, that it might be seen a