A17698:1756
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 then we see how Moseses intent was to bridle us, by showing us what the nature of God is: and he exhorteth us to fear him because he is terrible. And again, for as much as he regardeth no mans person, let us put away all pride & presumption. Let the great ones know that they shall gain nothing by their stoutness, but that all creatures must stoop to him. Finally let us not think that when we have offended God, we shall please him again with this fond shift of offering him some §30amends for it. For he doth so greatly abhor & loath sin, as he can by no means away with it, neither is there any payment in the world that can make satisfaction for it. What is to be done then, but to resort simply & plainly to our God, submitting our selves unto him, & seeking nothing else at his hand but to be reformed by him, so as all that ever he misliketh may be corrected & cast down in us? Furthermore when as it is said that God taketh no rewards, we be done to understand,§40 that (as much as in us lieth) we defile the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the only payment & satisfaction for our sins, when we be the bolder to sin under pretence of reconciling our selves unto God. They (I say) that take such liberty to do evil, defile the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, as if they trampled it under foot. For to say that when we have done a fault, we may be discharged of it by bringing some ransom or recompense for it, were a plain declaration that we §50love not our gold & silver at all. If a man should break all law because he is sure he hath to do with corrupt judges, whose favour he shall win with his purse, and yet notwithstanding for all his offending after that sort, had no care how he wasted & consumed his money, men would say he were witless. But we have not any other means whereby to be reconciled unto God, than the only blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now then if we fall to lashing of it out after that fashion without discretion, is it §60not a token of too villainous contempt? Yes. And therefore let us learn to hold our selves to that inestimable price that was paid for our ransom: let us learn (I say) to hold our selves in the fear of God, so as we give not our selves over unto evil. And therewithal let us learn also, to behave our selves in such wise towards our neighbours, as y• mighty grieve not the week and feeble.