A17698:1837
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.
And it is said expressly, that our hearts should ⟨p. 471⟩not be beguiled. For it is not enough for a man to abstain from doing of evil wilfully: but also all fond devotions are likewise condemned, because our Lord will not have men to be self-wise, but to obey simply whatsoever God commandeth them. Men think it to be a reasonable excuse before God, when they can say, I meant to do well: but that meant is but a mockery, as Moses showeth here. And for proof thereof, although our harts be beguiled, so as men perceive not their own §10evil doings and destruction, but make their reckoning that God will take their doings in good worth: yet are they condemned here (as ye see) with all their good intents, and they fail not to offend God nevertheless, and in offending him they fail not also to heap up vengeance upon their own heads. And why so? Even because they walk not in obedience unto him. Now then, let us learn, not to shield or shroud our selves any more under devotions after the foolish §20manner that hath reigned too much in the world: but let us understand that our Lord will have us to fetch light at his word, and to rule our lives by that. And sith he is so good to us as to teach us what is good, to the intent that Satan may not have any entrance into us, but that he may be put back though he go prying about us and endeavour to undermine us, and seek never so many by ways to creep into us: let us assure our selves throughly, that we have but §30only one way, from the which it is not lawful for us to step aside in any wise. And when we stand so upon our guard, let us not doubt but that God will reach us his hand, & so fence us on all sides, as Satan may well practise what he listeth, but he shall never win any thing at our hands. For otherwise this exhortation were to no purpose. If God should say unto us, beware, & in the mean while we had no means to beware, he might seem to mock us. But inasmuch as when we §40resort unto him, he vouchsafeth to guide us, by giving us the spirit of wisdom & discretion, to the end we should not be deceived:
And it is sayde expresly, that our heartes should ⟨p. 471⟩