A17698:2025
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 yet to persuade us the better in all these things, he addeth that they had done such things as God abhorred, as namely the burning of their children in fire. Here under one kind, Moses showeth that the wretched Paynims rushed out into so beastly dealings, as would make a man to abhor §60their cruelty to think upon it. For how is it possible that they should be so destitute of all reason, as to forget even natural kindness, when they meant to serve their Gods? What a thing was it, that they should go burn their own children? Behold, the fathers which ought to have considered, that when God had given them children, it was a singular blessing, forasmuch as he had ordained them to be in his own stead, to the end there should always be some seed in the world to honour him and serve him: even the fathers themselves (I say) did cast their own children into the fire, and became murderers of them. Whereby we see that idolaters may well be carried away with some devotion; but the same is but as a fury, they be out of their wits, and the devil doth so possess them, that they have neither wit nor discretion any more. And shall we allow of such doings? We see then whereat Moses aimed in declaring here that the wretched Paynims burned their own children, by means whereof they became stark devils, and there was not a more horrible thing than was their devotion, though they commended it never so much. If it be objected that GOD commanded Abraham to do the like;1 we see the end thereof. True it is that GOD meant so far forth to try Abraham's faith, by commanding him to kill his own son: but that was a singular example for a special purpose, and not a common rule. On the other side, GOD provided for it, and showed that he desired not to have mans blood sacrificed unto him: for he preserved Abraham from doing it when it came to the point. Therefore there is great diversity between the obedience that Abraham yielded to God in going about to sacrifice his son Isaac: and the madness of these blind wretches in purposing to honour their idols by murdering their own children.
And yet to perswade vs the better in all these things, he addeth that they had done such thinges as God abhorred, as namely the burning of their children in fyre. Here vnder one kind, Moses sheweth that the wretched Paynims rushed out into so beastly dealings, as woulde make a man to abhorre §60