A17698:1454
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.
Here we have to note, that whensoever we swerve from Gods word, we shall but wander, as hath been showed heretofore: and we may well go up and down, but we shall be never the further forward. Let men break their shanks as much as they list, & yet shall they either go back, or else find themselves all in one place still, unless they know the way which they ought to keep. For let us mark well that our own ways are crooked,1 and that there is nothing but straying and wandering in vain.2 And therefore God will have us to walk in his ways, which are strait and level. In saying so, Moses setteth down a comparison of things contrary. As if he should say, Wretched folk, ye think to further your selves when ye walk in your own ways, by devising every man a sundry way at his own pleasure. But what? Ye do but martyr ⟨p. 358⟩your selves in vain: for God will have men to walk in his ways, that is to say, in the ways that he showeth them, and he will have them to be followed. Therefore let us learn to submit our selves to Gods word, knowing well that our life shall never be well ordered, except we obey him. Yea and whereas he saith the ways of the Lord in the plural number: we must apply it to that which hath been said heretofore: that is to wit, that God hath given us so full a doctrine,§10 as we cannot allege that it is not enough, or that more may be added to it. Let us mark that our Lord will not fail us in any thing. Therefore let us not be wise in our own conceit, but let us ask counsel of him. And if we doubt that we go astray, or if we be afraid of wandering up and down: let us keep his way, and we can not go amiss. For why? God hath not made one way only: but he hath showed us all his ways, that is to say, all that ever is requisite §20to make a man walk aright, so as we can never go amiss, if we follow the direction that he setteth afore us. Now he addeth hereunto, To the end that we should fear the Lord. Herein he showeth to what end God gave us his Law. Why will he have men to keep it? To do him homage above all things. For we know that he receiveth neither harm nor benefit by us. What can we do to him? Our serving of him is not to advantage him any