A17698:1741
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.
The everlasting thy God (sayeth he) is the God of Gods, a great, a mighty, & a strong God: yea but let us mark also, that he doth not accept (that is to say, regard) mens persons; but judgeth according to the truth. Beware therefore that ye trust not any more in your circumcision nor in such like things, but bear in mind that God will have your service to be such, as your hearts may be wholly dedicated unto him: and that he would have you to submit your selves unto him, so as he may have you in his possession, and you enjoy the inheritance which he promised to your fathers, and which belongeth unto you. Gods greatness which Moses speaketh of in this place, is the first foundation which we must lay whereby to take courage to serve him. For if there be no certainty in our religion, we shall always make but a cold work of it, and if it be matched with any wilfulness, it will make us to stand in our own conceits, yea and stark fools; so as there shall be no trueth nor right in our doings. Howe so ever the case stand, I say if men be not sure who the GOD is whom they worship; they shall but run a stray and at random, without any zeal to serve him. For although the Papists be so greatly given to their idolatry, that to their own seeming they have sure hold of the things that they have imagined: yet it is but a doubtful opinion and surmise, which deceiveth them. In deed they do their service with many ceremonies; but if a man come to the searching of their hearts, he shall find them always doubting, and so snarled in their superstitions, that they know not where they be. And truly whensoever they be pinched with adversity, then doeth the venom break out, so as they show that they wot not whether there is a GOD or no, but by blaspheming of him, by gnashing their teeth against him, by finding fault with him, and by accusing him of cruelty, for punishing them (as they suppose) without their deserving. Lo in what taking all they be, which follow their own fancies in cases of religion. True it is that the Idolaters become so beastly in their superstitions, that they follow them with a burning affection, as the prophets say;1
The euerlasting thy God (sayeth he) is the God of Gods, a great, a mightie, & a strong God: yea but let vs marke also, that he doth not accept (that is to say, regard) mens persons; but iudgeth according to the truth. Beware therefore yt ye trust not any more in your circūcision nor in such like thinges, but beare in mind that God wil haue your seruice to be such, as your hearts may be wholly dedicated vnto him: and that he wold haue you to submit your selues vnto him, so as he may haue you in his possession, and you enioy the inheritance which hee promised to your fathers, and which belongeth vnto you. Gods greatnesse which Moses speaketh of in this place, is the first foundation which wee must lay whereby to take courage to serue him. For if there be no certainetie in our religion, wee shall alwayes make but a colde worke of it, and if it bee macched with any wilfulnesse, it will make vs to stande in our owne conceites, yea and starke fooles; so as there shall be no trueth nor right in our dooinges. Howe so euer the case stande, I say if men bee not sure who the GOD is whome they worshippe; they shall but runne a straye and at randonne, without anye zeale to serue him. For although the Papistes bee so greatly giuen to their idolatrie, that to their owne seeming they haue sure houlde of the thinges that they haue imagined: yet it is but a doubtfull opinion and surmise, which deceiueth them. In deede they doe their seruice with many ceremonies; but if a man come to the searching of their heartes, hee shall finde them alwayes doubting, and so snarled in their superstitions, that they knowe not where they be. And truely whensoeuer they be pinched with aduersitie, then doeth the venime breake out, so as they shewe that they wote not whether there is a GOD or no, but by blaspheming of him, by gnashing their teeth against him, by finding fault with him, and by accusing him of crueltie, for punishing them (as they suppose) without their deseruing. Loe in what taking all they be, which followe their owne fancies in cases of religion. True it is that the Idolaters become so beastly in their superstitions, that they followe them with a burning affection, as the prophetes say;