A17698:1563
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 it is a blasphemy against Jesus Christ, it is a policy of Satan to deface the honour of the Gospel, and to make us forget the thing that the holy ghost aimed at, which is that we might know how the law & the Gospel are no earthly doctrines, nor of mans invention, but altogether heavenly and of God, to the end that we should stoop unto them.
but it is a blasphemie against Iesus Christe, it is a policie of Satan to deface the honour of the Gospell, and to make vs forget the thing yt the holy ghost amed at, which is that we might know how the lawe & the Gospel are no earthly doctrines, nor of mans inuention, but altogether heauenly and of God, to the end that we should stoope vnto them.
Yet for all this, it is not meant that fasting is not good and holy. For though we make no Lent fast, yet are there other fasts which are commanded us in the holy Scripture: that is to wit, first of all staidness and sobriety all our life long, so as we glut not our selves one day to forbear another for it, but use the benefits measurably which God hath bestowed upon us: that they which have abundance abuse it not in superfluity. And our fasting §50must be to restrain and bridle our selves willingly aswell from meat and drink, as from all other things wherein we may commit excess or disorder, so as we forbear them willingly, as I said afore. As for these that have not very well wherewith to find themselves, let them be contented with their poverty, and take it patiently with thanksgiving unto God. Again if our Lord afflict us, or that we be in any distress: let us resort to fasting, of purpose to §60dispose our selves to prayer and supplication, and to lift up our hearts the better unto GOD, humbling our selves and acknowledging our faults unto him. Let our fastings be as spurs to drive us to god, to present ourselves before him as wretched offenders, to crave mercy and forgiveness at his hand. These are the fastings which the holy scripture alloweth, notwithstanding the said superstition invented by the devil to deface Gods word, & the divine power that was showed in Moses, but more fully in our Lord Jesus Christ. For he fasted not as compelled by others: but of his own free will, to show that although he was like us in all things saving only sin: yet could he well have been exempted from fasting, as in deed he was not a hungered nor a thirst of all the while he fasted. And why? For he had laid aside the state that he took upon him. Although he was under the shape of a servant: