A17698:1906
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.
That is the first end whereat we must begin. And afterward we must agree with the holy patriarchs, Apostles, & all the faithful that have lived since §50the world began. We must have that indissoluble band of faith, & all must come to this point, namely that they be grounded upon the certain and unfallible truth. As for example, The Jews that came after, had the fathers as well as they, of whom also they made themselves a shield. but God did utterly mislike their so doing, according to this saying of the prophet Ezekiel;1 Walk not after the righteousness of your forefathers. At the first blush here seemeth to be some contrarity. For §60in this same place it is said; Worship ye the God of your fathers, stick to him, & beware ye change not your religion. And there the prophet Ezekiel saith contrariwise, beware that ye follow not the devotion of your fathers. Yea verily: for there were two sorts of fathers among the Jews: the one was Abraham, & the holy Patriarchs & Prophets, and such as knew the living God, & served him in all pureness: those it behoved the Jews to rule themselves by. And in that respect doth Moses say now unto them, beware that ye turn not away from the God of your fathers, but continue still in their faith. Besides this, they had other fathers also, which were backsliders, & froward, and had corrupted the Law, & made a mingle-mangle of it with all the superstitions of the heathen. In respect of this it is said, beware ye follow not your fathers: for they were froward & false-hearted towards God. In the same taking is the world at this day. The Papists allege their fathers. But what? Are not the Apostles the true fathers of the christian Church? Yes, but the papists will not hear them speak, nor any other that have stablished such order in the Church as God commanded. But they have their bastard fathers like themselves, which being a misbegotten generation, they take Monks & old dotterels for their fathers. Again, when they allege any of the ancient doctors, if there be any folly or superstition in their writings, they can skill to cull it out every whit:
That is the first end whereat we must begin. And afterward we must agree with the holy patriarks, Apostles, & all the faithfull that haue liued since §50