A17698:131
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 like as it is said of the execution of Justice: so let us note that it belongeth also to the spiritual government which god hath ordained in his Church: yea and this doctrine ought to be kept more straitly in that respect, than in the earthly government. Why? When God ordaineth kings, Princes and Magistrates: there withal he giveth them authority to make Laws. True it is, that they ought to learn them in his school, according as it is said that laws and ordinances which are made in common weals,1 do take their force of Gods wisdom. But yet for all that, civil or politic laws are made by men. Yet notwithstanding God hath not resigned any thing, that he should not hold still the sovereign dominion over men. I mean even in respect of outward policy. And as touching the spiritual government of the Church, we know that God will be heard, and that he will have his word obeyed above all things, so as men may not take upon them to make laws & statutes, but must hold themselves contented with that which he commandeth them. For the rule that is contained in his word is the very perfection it self. Therefore when we go up into the pulpit, it is not to utter our own dreams and dotages. why so? For God reserveth the mastership and chief superiority still to himself, so as he will have men to receive his word, to rest wholly thereupon without any swerving at all from it. Seeing that God hath once set it down so: it behoveth us to rest upon it. Had this bin well observed in the world, there should not be so great troubles & variances at this day as there are. Whence come the variances that are betwixt us & the papists, but of that men have not reserved unto god the thing that belongeth unto him, but have framed articles of faith, laws, and ordinances at their own pleasure, & in the end are come to this horrible confusion of mingling the inventions of mens brains with the pureness of the holy scripture, so as they have marred all things? And whereof else cometh it, that even at this day, the papists fight still for the maintenance of that tyranny, that a man might not know God from his Apostles as they themselves say, by which common ⟨p. 22⟩proverb of theirs they condemn themselves and cut their own throats?
But like as it is said of the execution of Iustice: so let vs note that it belongeth also to the spiritual gouernement which god hath ordeined in his Church: yea and this doctrine ought to bee kept more straitly in that respect, than in the earthly gouernment. Why? When God ordeineth kings, Princes and Magistrates: there withall he giueth them authoritie to make Lawes. True it is, that they ought to learne them in his schoole, according as it is said that lawes and ordinances which are made in commō weales,