A17698:1679
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.
Wherefore let us beware that we turn away from all wicked lusts, and that we cut off whatsoever is defiled in us, and generally all that ever is of the world, so as we may press unto our God, and having given over the world we may be so united unto him, as he may avow us to be his priests. For if we do otherwise, we shall be double accursed, and we shall not be able to excuse our selves but that God hath advanced us high enough. But what excuse will there be for us now when our Lord hath brought us so near unto him, and vouchsafed to make us priests to offer up our own selves unto him▪ and to make us his temples, so as we should have a spiritual altar erected unto him in our selves? Seeing that God hath brought us to that point, is it not a horrible treachery (say I) if we fall to unhallow his temple? Now then, let us understand, that whensoever this world turneth us away unto evil, we offer God great wrong, in making his temple a swines sty, and in unhallowing the thing that he had hallowed, by causing all the corruptions of Satan and of this world to come into his temple. Surely it ought to hold us in awe and to make us walk in all soundness, so as we give not over our bodies and souls to any dishonesty, seeing that God hath sanctified them to himself. This is the thing which we have to bear away upon the first part of this text.
Wherefore lette vs beware that wee turne away from all wicked lustes, and that we cut off whatsoeuer is defiled in vs, and generally all that euer is of the world, so as we may prease vnto our God, and hauing giuen ouer the world we may be so vnited vnto him, as he may auowe vs to be his priestes. For if we doe otherwise, we shalbe dubble accursed, and we shall not be able to excuse our selues but that God hath aduaunced vs high ynough. But what excuse will there be for vs nowe when our Lorde hath brought vs so neere vnto him, and vouchsafed to make vs priestes to offer vppe our owne selues vnto him▪ and to make vs his temples, so as we should haue a spirituall altar erected vnto him in our selues? Seeing that God hath brought vs to that point, is it not a horrible treacherie (say I) if wee fall to vnhallowe his temple? Nowe then, lette vs vnderstande, that whensoeuer this worlde turneth vs away vnto euill, wee offer God greate wrong, in making his temple a swynes stie, and in vnhallowing the thing that he had hallowed, by causing all the corruptions of Sathan and of this worlde to come into his temple. Surely it ought to holde vs in awe and to make vs walke in all soundenesse, so as we giue not ouer our bodies and soules to anie dishonestie, seeing that God hath sanctified them to himselfe. This is the thing which we haue to beare away vpon the first part of this text.