A17698:1214
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 hereby we see, that such as swear by the names of creatures are idolaters, & rob God of the protestations which he will have men to make unto him, inasmuch as he will have none to be so honoured but himself. It is a common §50thing among the Papists to swear by the virgin Mary and by the rest of the saints. True it is, that men have not thought that to be so great evil: but although there were no more but that, yet there appeareth to be manifest idolatry in so doing. For why? They that swear by the virgin Mary, do set her in Gods seat, as though it belonged to her to judge the world: and a man could not devise to do greater wrong to our Lord Jesus Christ, than to attribute that thing §60unto her which is given unto him alone, yea and given unto him in respect that he is God manifested in the flesh.1 Again, they attribute unto her the searching and knowing of mens secret thoughts, which title the holy scripture reserveth peculiarly unto God. Then is it horrible treachery to swear by the virgin Mary, or by any other creature. And would God this superstition were utterly abolished among us, that it might never be had in remembrance any more. But what? There are a number of wilful folk, from whom that cursed custom cannot be taken, and say what ye will to them, they continue doted in it, insomuch that if a man do so point them to it with his finger, that as blind as they be they may see the mean how to yield God his due honour: yet all is one with them, they will not in any wi•e be made to believe it. And why? Because the devil hath bewitched them. Howsoever the case stand let us note that all such as swear by any other name than by the name of God, are idolaters. And why? I told ye the reason before: namely because we cannot swear by the name of God, but we must confess that he is our judge, and that it is only he to whom it belongeth to know our secret thoughts, and to punish us for falsifying his truth and for turning of it into a lye, whereas we should bear witness unto it. And let us mark that one kind is put for all of that sort. By reason whereof we be commanded, not only to swear by the name of God, but also to yield such confession of him before men, as we may show our selves to be his people in deed, and that we would fain that he should reign among us, and that his name should be glorified.