A17698:1978
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.
For if in my eating & drinking at all times & in all places, I know not that I am beholden to God for the good things that he hath ordained §60for me: it is all one as if I stole it from him: I do but filch it from him like a dog or a cat, which taketh that which was not ordained for her. Ye see then that that is one fault.
For if in my eating & drinking at all times & in all places, I know not that I am beholden to God for ye good things yt hee hath ordeined §60for mee: it is al one as if I stole it frō him: I do but filch it frō him like a dog or a cat, which taketh that which was not ordeined for her. Yee see then that that is one fault.
Again, it is as it were a burying of God, when men know not that it is he which giveth them the food for their sustenance. If we be not fully persuaded of that; then is God disappointed of the honour that belongs to him, so as we acknowledge him not for our father and fosterer, but become so brutish that we mind no more the life which is prepared for us in the kingdom of heaven. But his taking of such fatherly care of us in this world, is to lead us up higher thereby. And so we see that unless we be sure that God giveth us leave to eat and drink according to his blessing; we be but as brute beasts, and much worse than they. Again, on the other side, who gives us authority to devour Gods benefits? Shall we wretched creatures which offend God without ceasing, presume to do it of our own heads, without considering that we have those things of his free goodness, and that they belong not to us otherwise than of Gods good will, who vouchsafeth to show him self liberal towards us? Surely then do we raven all things to us without any right or title. Therefore are we blame worthy every way for our eating and drinking, till we know that GOD is the giver of all. And hereby we be done to understand further, that in our eating and drinking we must not observe the traditions of men, but content ourselves with the testimony of Gods good will. And thereunto also doeth the holy scripture refer us by condemning the fond toys that men devise of themselves, as when they say, it is not Lawful to eat flesh upon such a day, this must be done and that must be done. And what authority have men to bid and forbid such things? For the Pope and all his rabble are not able to make a silly fly: and shall they forbid us to eat beef, mutton, or any other of the things that were made for our sustenance? What else is their usurping of such authority, than a robbing of GOD of his sovereignty over us? Now then let us have an eye to the will of our GOD. And sith we know that he hath given us all meats without exception: let every of us use them soberly, and be contented to be ruled by his word: for to him only doeth it belong to lay Laws upon us, and it is not for any mortal man to presume so far.