A17698:1921
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 in speaking after that manner, Moses showeth that the putting away of idols is not all §20that we have to do: but that the chief point is the advancing, restoring and stablishing of Gods pure service. And that is well worthy to be noted. For we shall see a great number nowadays, which can well enough mock at the follies of the Pope, & at the abuses which reign under his tyranny. They dare well enough eat flesh upon fridays, and they make no great account of Lent & Saints evens, or of the taking of holy water, or of kissing of Relics, or of gadding §30on Pilgrimage, or of any other such petty trash. They have no great devotion to the mass, or to Shrift, neither pass they for the dead, or for the singing [of diriges and such other paltry] for such as are deceased. We shall see a great number that can well enough despise all the superstitions of the Popedom, yea and even laugh them to scorn and utterly condemn them. But what? There is no fear of God, there is no Religion in them. Surely it were much better §40for them to have gone on still like brute beasts in their ignorance, than by such contempt to fall to rushing against Gods Majesty like wild beasts, and not to perceive that there is a God which reigneth over the whole world. Then doeth it not greatly boot to have abolished Idols, except the true religion be set up in the stead of it: Like as when a house is builded amiss, if it be said to be nothing worth, or that there be many faults in it; it shall be well done §50to pull it down again, whereas notwithstanding if it were let alone in the same plight, so as a man had lever to have some Hog's cote to lodge in; yet for all the ill-favouredness and faultiness of it, it would serve his turn after a sort being let stand still: but if it were pulled down and razed to the ground and none other builded up in stead thereof, the pulling down of it were to no purpose at all.
And in speaking after that manner, Moses sheweth that the putting away of idols is not all §20that wee haue to doe: but that the cheefe point is the aduauncing, restoring and stablishing of Gods pure seruice. And that is well worthie to be noted. For wee shall see a great number nowadayes, which can wel enough mocke at the follies of the Pope, & at the abuses which reigne vnder his tyrannie. They dare well enough eat fleshe vpon frydayes, and they make no great account of Lent & Saints euens, or of the taking of holy water, or of kissing of Relikes, or of gadding