A17698:1891
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.
I am not worthy to press unto God (say they) & therefore I will go seek to the virgin Mary, S. Michael, & S. Peter: & thereupon they devise & set up a great sort of Saints at their own pleasure. And what a dealing is that? Sure we be that our Lord Jesus Christ will not fail us: for as much as it is his office appointed him of his father; he will discharge it. And why then do we not go right forth unto him? He will be a good stay for us. Come unto me saith he,1 alluring us gently. Again we have promises innumerable, that if we resort unto him we shall not be disappointed of that which we hope for: & yet for all this we lean to our own weening, & we say, to my seeming I were best to go to S. Michael or to our Lady. And so we fall to forsaking the certainty that God hath given us, to ketch an uncertainty: and in likewise wise deal we with all the rest. For in serving God according to his law, we be sure that our service shall be well taken. But the Papists fall to inventing of this & that, & leave the law of God: & is not that a forsaking of the certain to follow an uncertain? Yes, & that is against nature. Therefore it appeareth that we be blinded by Satan. For we have the clean contrary in us by nature. We have with enough to say, I would fain be assured & we be loth to hazard our selves at all adventure: & yet in this case we be so mad, that neither ropes nor chains can hold us. My alleging of these examples is to show after what sort we should put this doctrine in ure: for it falleth out that men have wilfully estranged themselves from God in all cases. How so? For whereas God hath discovered himself unto them; they have not vouchsafed to hold themselves to him, but rather have busied themselves about their own dreams & dotages. In deed they will easily say, We know there is but one god the maker of heaven & earth: but in the mean while they hatch a whole swarm of other gods, as we may well perceive by the idols which they have forged.2 And whereof cometh that? Even of this, that whereas men knew God, yet they have had no list to glorify him, but have wandered away after their own imagination, by means whereof they be turned away from him. And at such time as God gave his law, the blessing was more darksome than it is nowadays in the time of the Gospel. Behold, God doth not only report himself to be the maker of heaven & earth;