A17698:2024
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.
As for example, the heathen worshipped such an idol, or held such a high feast on such a day: and therefore must we also appoint a feast to some Saint upon the same day. Yea, but that was but a changing of the name of the idol: and the nearer they came unto it, or took covert under it, the more did they falsely abuse §30God his name and defile it. Thus made they an exchange of the idols of the heathen, and in their steeds took up He-saints and She-saints and made idols of them. Now seeing that this manner of dealing hath bin the cause of the perverting of all things; it standeth us the more in hand to take heed to the things that Moses telleth us here, to wit, that God requireth not that we should do as the wretched and ignorant infidels do to their Idols: but that if we will §40walk rightly we must keep us from counterfeiting the things that we may happen to see every where. True it is that forasmuch as we be fleshly, we will think the things that are done by men to be very godly: but what shall we gain in this case, by bringing our own weights and balances? For God will have us to hearken unto him; and shall not we then make a fair bargain, to say I ween I do well? All §50such stuff is nothing worth, it must be stricken off, every whit. That is the cause why Moses in this text expressly presupposeth that God will not have the things done to him which the wretched infidels did to their idols.
As for example, the heathen worshipped such an idol, or helde such a high feast on such a day: and therefore must wee also appoint a feast to some Saint vpon the same day. Yea, but that was but a changing of the name of the idol: and the neerer they came vnto it, or tooke couert vnder it, the more did they falsely abuse §30God his name and defile it. Thus made they an exchange of the ydols of the heathen, and in their steeds tooke vp Heesaints and Sheesaints and made ydols of them. Nowe seeing that this manner of dealing hath bin the cause of the peruerting of all things; it standeth vs the more in hand to take heede to the things that Moses telleth vs here, to witte, that God requireth not that we should do as the wretched and ignorant infidels doe to their Idols: but that if wee will §40walke rightly wee must keepe vs from counterfeiting the thinges that wee may happen to see euery where. True it is that forasmuch as wee bee fleshly, wee will thinke the thinges that are done by men to bee very godly: but what shall wee gaine in this case, by bringing our owne weightes and balances? For God will haue vs to hearken vnto him; and shall not wee then make a faire bargaine, to say I weene I doe well? All