A17698:1530
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 for the better understanding hereof, let us mark how it is said, that obedience is better than all the sacrifices in the world.1 Then let us bear in mind, that if men will needs challenge righteousness to themselves, they must examine well whether they bow down their necks to submit themselves wholly unto God. For if they have not that: all the rest is nothing. They may well vaunt themselves before men: but yet all their virtues are no better than dung, until they be come so far as to bear Gods yoke, that is to say, to behave themselves according to his will, and t offer their life unto him that he may have the over ruling of them, as he listeth, so as they be contented to obey him simply and without exception. Thus ye see that our true righteousness is obedience: ⟨p. 381⟩yea and such an obedience, as seeketh not to please mortal men, but the living God. And it is a point which we ought to mark well▪ for hereby the doctrine that I declared afore, is the better confirmed. Men do always surmise some meriting or deserving in themselves at their own pleasure. When they will be taken for holy and righteous, they have their private devotions, but in the mean while they make none account of being disobedient to §10GOD. Contrariwise it is told us here, that God requireth nothing more than obedience. For all that ever we can bring him of our own, is nothing: but he trieth whether we love him and honour him or no, by telling us his will, and by laying as it were a bridle or a yoke upon our necks, as if he should say: Be pliable under me, come not perking up with your heads against me, set not up your crests, ne play not the wild colts: but dispose §20your selves to order your lives according to my Laws & commandments. That is the thing whereto GOD hath an eye.2 Not that he reapeth any commodity by us, neither that we can do him any harm: but because it is a true proof that we be willing to honour him, when we suffer him to govern us, and run not every man upon his own head, but leave to him his dew sovereignty and dominion, saying: Lord we be thy poor cattle, direct