A17698:1263
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.
And it is purposely said, Thy righteousness before God. Why so? To the intent that men should no more beguile themselves in their own opinion, as they be wont to do by hardening their harts when other men sooth them, or by standing in their own conceits. For then they bear themselves on hand, that God hath no more authority to condemn them, but that the fond opinion which they have conceived, shall be as a block to cast in his way. To the intent therefore that men should not yield to their own imaginations and to the things which they surmise to be good: Moses saith here, my friends, what shall ye win, by deeming it to be righteousness to do as the heathen do, and to entangle you selves in their superstitions? For though the world like well of you for so doing: yet must ye come [to an after-reckoning] before the heavenly Judge: for men be not competent judges to give sentence of that matter. And therefore (to be short) ye had need to look about you how God will accept your doings. And he telleth you that he will not be subject to mens wills, nor be so pliable as to say: shall this be accounted good? Then must I agree to it.1 No no, he will continue always like himself.2 Therefore hold ye to that which he commandeth: for his word ⟨p. 301⟩must be your whole wisdom, while the world foadeth it self with it own inventions. Thus ye see what is meant by these words where Moses saith, it shall be counted to you for righteousness before God, if ye keep the commandments which he hath appointed.
And it is purposely said, Thy righteousnesse before God. Why so? To the intent that menne should no more beguile themselues in their owne opinion, as they be wont to do by hardning their harts when other men sooth them, or by standing in their owne conceites. For then they beare themselues on hand, that God hath no more authoritie to condemne them, but that the fond opinion which they haue conceiued, shalbe as a blocke to cast in his way. To the intent therefore that men should not yeelde to their owne imaginations and to the thinges which they surmise to bee good: Moses sayth here, my friendes, what shall yee winne, by deeming it to bee righteousnesse to doe as the heathen doe, and to intangle you selues in their superstitions? For though the world lyke well of you for so doing: yet must ye come [to an after-reckoning] before the heauenly Iudge: for men bee not competent iudges to giue sentence of that matter. And therefore (to bee short) yee had neede to looke about you how God will accept your doinges. And hee telleth you that he wil not be subiect to mens willes, nor be so plyable as to say: shal this be accounted good? Then must I agree to it.