A17698:1526
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 we have to note first of all, that men will never come to confess their faults and to humble themselves, until they be convicted, to their faces: I say till they be convicted, as an offender that is arraigned at the bar. For as we see that offenders do shamelessly deny the faults that they have committed, as far as they can: even so do all m•n deal when they be cited before GOD: they do always shrink back, and use fond excuses, rather than openly stand to the denial of it. The knitting up of the matter is, that they never serve him but by constraint. That is the cause why GOD discovereth our lewdness to make us ashamed of it. For if he should not use us after that sort, he should never compass us to make us to stoop. For first we be cumbered with pride, and secondly we be blinded with hypocrisy. And therefore forasmuch as men are so high minded, that they can not find in their hearts to be acknowen of their own wretchedness: and therewithal so besotted, that they flatter themselves in their own sins: it is requisite that GOD should bring them to it after such manner as we see here, so as he should arraign them and lay their faults afore them. For men do not ⟨p. 380⟩only endeavour to justify themselves, but also proceed so far, as even to accuse God. And that is the cause why he sayeth by his prophet Isaiah, Well then, let us go to law together, and let there be some umpire betwixt us,1 to see who shall have the better hand. True it is that God can not be subject to any judge or umpire, for his majesty can not bear it. But he laugheth mens cursed stateliness to scorn, in that they repine so against him, and would bring §10him down (as it were to the bar) against them, to wit who had the better case. God therefore in respect of such presumptuousness, sayeth, I am contented to have the matter debated and discussed, I will allege my reasons and you shall allege yours, and men shall discern who hath the right and who hath the wrong. Now, he speaketh not after the same fashion here: but he telleth the people in one word, that if they pretend any righteousness §20of their own, he can well disprove them. And for certainty thereof, know ye (sayeth Moses) that ye be a stiffenecked people.