A17698:2114
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 although the heathen keep still their dotages, although the Jews be wilful in maintaining their false exposition of the law, although the ⟨p. 545⟩Turks hold still their Mahomets Alcoran, although the Papists be still entangled in their superstitions: all is one, so they hold fast this principle, that there is a God. Yea, but Moses sayeth here expressly, that although a man pretend an intent to serve God: yet must he be stoned to death, if it be known that he meant but only to overthrow or disguise the true religion. And what more then? For (as I have said) we must not only pronounce with our §10mouth that there is a God: but we must also discern him from all the abuses that men have invented of their own brain. For otherwise it is but a mocking of all the holy Scripture. I shall say I worship God, and in the mean time I worship a puppet. And what is my God? It is a fantasy that I have devised in mine own head: it is not the living God, he disclaimeth all such dealings, & so am I but a forger. For (as Saint Paul speaketh of it in the first to the Romans,1)§20 such as have wandered away after their own imaginations, have transformed the majesty of GOD, though their intent was to worship the living God, as the Papists do, which protest that they worship God the maker of heaven and earth; and likewise the Turks, who say the same thing; and so also do the Jews, notwithstanding that they abhor Jesus Christ.
And although the heathen keepe stil their dotages, although the Iewes be wilfull in maintayning their false exposition of ye lawe, although the ⟨p. 545⟩Turkes holde still their Mahomets Alcoran, although the Papistes bee still intangled in their superstitions: all is one, so they holde fast this principle, that there is a God. Yea, but Moses sayeth here expressely, that although a man pretende an intent to serue God: yet must hee bee stoned to death, if it be knowen that hee meant but onely to ouerthrowe or disguise the true religion. And what more then? For (as I haue sayd) wee must not onely pronounce with our §10