A17698:2032
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.
Verily that is a cursed and devilish blasphemy. Therefore, let not the Papists boast of their serving of God: for the devil is their founder, and God disavoweth all that ever they do. For he may always reply against them and say, Who required these things at your hands? And not without cause: for their so doing is all one as if they charged God with envy towards men, as who would say he had not faithfully taught them all things that were for their behoof to do. And I pray you is that blasphemy tolerable?
Verily that is a cursed and diuelish blasphemie. Therefore, let not the Papistes boast of their seruing of God: for the diuell is their founder, and God disauoweth all that euer they doe. For hee may alwayes reply against thē and say, Who required these things at your handes? And not without cause: for their so doing is all one as if they charged God with enuy towardes men, as who would say he had not faithfully taught them all thinges that were for their behoofe to doe. And I pray you is that blasphemie tollerable?
But there is yet another point which I glanced at. For those two may be put both into one. The other point then is, that they utterly deface the sovereign dominion that God hath over us. For thus do they allege: Very well, God hath ordained by his law, that we should keep his commandments, Statutes and Ordinances: but yet is it not amiss to add moreover what I my self would have done. But if a private person should fall to mingling of the inventions of his own brain, with the statutes that are set forth by public authority, should he not trouble the whole order of the Common weal? And as for such as took part with him, should they not show themselves to be rebels to their superiors?1 Now our Lord saith by his prophet Isaiah that he himself will be known to be our only lawgiver. That is a title which he challengeth to himself. Seeing then that God will be our only Lawmaker, what shall we say when men do thrust themselves into his place? Is it not more than to confound heaven and earth together? And surely Saint James