A17698:1462
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.
For this manner of calling upon God is as good as nothing, I mean in comparison of the knowledge that lieth hidden under it, and which hath a lively root, which shall be treated of more largely anon. For if men cannot find in their hearts to discharge their duty in the lesser things, as in the lifting up of their hands, and in yielding some praise unto God by some outward signs: I pray you how ⟨p. 360⟩will they do that which is commanded them here, that is to wit, how will they bless God in all their whole life, which is the harder thing to do? Therefore let us mark, that this unthankfulness of forgetting God▪ and of yielding no sign of acknowledgement of his benefits, is an ordinary vice. But although it be so: yet fail they not to be blameworthy for it: neither let us think to justify or excuse our selves by wicked custom as a number do, which would fain §10make a buckler of it against God, bearing themselves on hand, that forasmuch as [the overslipping of thanksgiving unto God] is so common a thing among men, therefore it is lawful for them to do so also: But that will be no excuse for us, as I said afore. For although there be not a commoner thing than this lewdness of forgetting God which is daily seen among men: doth it follow that therefore their fault should not be imputed unto them? No no: but the more §20that one of them have hardened another, and all of them are become brutish, & have conspired against God: so much the more horrible must their vengeance be.
For this manner of calling vpon God is as good as nothing, I meane in comparison of the knowledge that lyeth hidden vnder it, and which hath a liuely roote, which shall bee treated of more largely anon. For if men cannot finde in their hearts to discharge their duetie in the lesser thinges, as in the lifting vp of their handes, and in yeelding some praise vnto God by some outward signes: I pray you howe ⟨p. 360⟩will they doe that which is commaunded them here, that is to wit, how will they blesse God in all their whole life, which is the harder thing to doe? Therefore let vs marke, that this vnthankfulnesse of forgetting God▪ and of yeelding no signe of acknowledgement of his benefites, is an ordinarie vice. But although it be so: yet fayle they not to be blameworthie for it: neither let vs thinke to iustifie or excuse our selues by wicked custome as a number do, which would faine