A17698:2049
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.
Now he addeth, If he say unto thee, Let us follow strange gods, which thou hast not known. This serveth to show us who be false prophets. For §30God telleth us that we cannot withstand the wiles of Satan, without the knowledge of the trueth: that is the only mean. And no marvel though the wretched world nowadays be allured to destruction: for Gods word is as it were buried: and when men are destitute of that light, it is certain that they be in horrible darkness, so as they cannot but stumble & stray here and there, because they have no certain aim at any thing. But here our Lord declareth §40that we must be instructed in his word; and thereunto also is this saying after a sort referred. For he presupposeth that we be in a good trade already, and that we know the way of salvation: accordingly as Moses will protest hereafter;1 saying, I have showed you the way of life and the way of death. Now therefore, whensoever we will resist false Prophets, and their lies, let us take to us the doctrine of trueth. And that is the cause why it is said, The §50gods which thou hast not known. For in this case we must match the living God whom we have known, against all the idols which the world hath forged to it self. For God speaketh not to such as never heard nor understood any thing of him before: but to such as he had given his law unto, whom he had set in the right way, and to whom he had given an infallible rule. When he hath so fenced men aforehand, then sayeth he unto them, Beware §60that ye follow not the gods whom ye have not been acquainted with.
Nowe hee addeth, If he say vnto thee, Let vs followe strange gods, which thou hast not knowen. This serueth to shewe vs who bee false prophets. For §30God telleth vs that wee cannot withstande the wyles of Satan, without the knowledge of the trueth: that is the onely meane. And no maruel though the wretched worlde nowadayes be allured to destruction: for Gods worde is as it were buryed: and when men are destitute of that light, it is certaine that they bee in horrible darknesse, so as they cannot but stumble & stray here and there, because they haue no certaine aime at any thing. But here our Lorde declareth