A17698:1848
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.
Even so let us not marvel though Gods word enter not into us, for whereas our hearts ought to be tilled as when a plough hath eared a piece of land: they lye still unopened & unbroken up at all. By reason whereof, Gods word may well be given us as a seed, but it shall do us no good, the devil will catch it away by and by, because it sinketh not into our hearts & our souls. That is the cause §30why I said that all that Moses hath spoken of frontlets, of bracelets, & of writings set up in mens houses, must be referred altogether to this, that we shall fare neverawhit the better for the uttering of the Law unto us, nor understand any thing at all by it, until it have taken root in us, & that we have received it with hearty affection to give our selves unto God.
Euen so let vs not maruel though Gods word enter not into vs, for whereas our heartes ought to be tilled as when a plowgh hath eared a peece of land: they lye still vnopened & vnbroken vp at all. By reason whereof, Gods word may wel be giuen vs as a seede, but it shall doe vs no good, the diuell wil catche it away by and by, because it sinketh not into our heartes & our soules. That is the cause §30why I sayd yt al yt Moses hath spoken offrontlets, of bracelets, & of writings set vp in mens houses, must be referred altogether to this, yt wee shall fare neuerawhit ye better for ye vttering of ye Lawe vnto vs, nor vnderstand any thing at all by it, vntill it haue taken roote in vs, & that wee haue receiued it with hartie affection to giue our selues vnto God.
And yet is not all that we have to do, neither doth God think it enough that every man should §40endeavour to profit himself by it: but he will also have the fathers to teach their children. Wherein he showeth that (as I have said afore) it is not enough for us to serve our God during our own lives; but we must also provide that the seed of religion may remain after our decease. For we be transitory, & our life is but a shadow: & therefore inasmuch as Gods trueth is immortal, it is good reason that it should continue for ever, & that it should be preserved from hand to hand, & that