A17698:1571
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 remaineth how Moses addeth, that after the term of forty days, God said unto him, Up and get thee down apace: for this people have soon marred themselves, by forgetting me, and the §10favour that I have showed them. Here Moses goeth on still with his matter, showing the people that their revolting and starting away so soon from GOD was too too shameful and detestable. True it is that although they had held out four hundred yea or a thousand years, yet had they not been to be excused. But now when as they fell to making of an idol, and did set up a Puppet within forty days space, even while God was about §20the furtherance of their benefit and welfare, (as I said afore) when Moses was taken up as it were into the company of Angels, by reason whereof they should rather have thought thus, Go too, in the person of that one man we be after a sort separated from the rest of mankind, and God sanctifieth us to himself, and therewithal bringeth us into his kingdom, to the intent we should not have any earthliness in our religion: What a lewd dealing was that?§30 For this cause Moses saith, that God commanded him to get him down in hast, because the people were marred out of hand, so as they were fallen to making of a new God, even while the law was a writing, and while God was confirming of his covenant with them. And it is plainly said that they were marred: Behold (saith God) they have marred. For the word which he useth, betokeneth no more, but they have marred, without other addition. And indeed §40it was a right marring of them, that is to say of the Jews, who became lewd backsliders and perjured caitiffs, utterly turning away from the trueth and rule of God, and finally from all order both heavenly and earthly. For wherein consisteth our pureness, but in obeying GOD? According to this similitude of Saint Pauls,1 that like as a woman is a lawful and faithful wife as long as she keepeth herself chaste to her husband: so all the chastity which God requireth §50of us, is that we should stick alonely to his word. Then if we fall to making of idols: it is a villainous marring of our selves, we become like common harlots that give over their bodies to all comers, leaving their own husbands, and yielding themselves to every whoremaster and ruffian. Even so is it with us.