A17698:1890
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.
But here is yet one other saying well worthy to be noted. Moses saith that the curse shall come upon the people when they turn away from their GOD to serve strange Gods and such as they have not known. Here again he showeth that they which have bin §20rightly taught, are much more blameworthy than the wretched infidels. For they spite God maliciously & wilfully: they offend not any more of ignorance, but turn aside wilfully from the way that God had willed them to walk in, & seem to make war against him of set purpose: by means whereof they make their condemnation the grievouser. And therefore let us mark well, that we which have received the doctrine of the Gospel, shall be less excusable than the papists, if we obey §30not our God. For the papists hold on still their old trade, they be gone astray like silly beasts, & all that ever they do is but filth & abomination. This is true. And yet do we for our parts much worse in turning away from our God, after his coming unto us, & that he had brought us nigh unto himself. And Moses saith expressly; The Gods which you have not known. Wherein he rebuketh the malice of men, in that they had lever to follow the uncertain than the certain. True it is §40that we have a clean contrary ground in nature. For if a man be demanded whether he had lever to be sure of a thing or to be doubtful of it; He will always say he had lever be sure of it. And yet for all that, we seem all of us to strive who may be most wavering, doubtful, & uncertain of his soul-health, & yet notwithstanding what is there that we should make more account of? And God is ready to assure us of it, warranting us it by his word, so as we cannot fail of it, if we obey him.§50 We hear it, & can Godly? No: & therefore let us go on as he hath commanded us. Nay, we be loth to do so. And what do we in steed thereof? I trow, I ween. Lo at what point we be! Let us see how the papists do. When they should pray unto god, this one good point they have, that they know themselves unworthy to press unto him. That is true.1 But behold, our Lord giveth us a remedy, which is, that our Lord Jesus Christ shall be our spokesman: so as if he entreat for us, we shall be admitted §60