A17698:2160
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 first of all let us put the doctrine in ure which Saint Paul setteth down in the thirteenth to the Romans,1 which is, that we be not careful for our flesh, at leastwise to fulfil the lusts thereof (for that is a gulf that can ⟨p. 557⟩never be filled) but only look to the sustaining of our bodies, so far forth as they may be maintained in good plight, & so use Gods creatures, as we defile them not. For although Gods creatures are permitted unto us; yet do we not cease to defile them by our unbelief, intemperance, gluttony, or other abuses which we commit. GOD showeth that as now we may eat both of the Hare and of the Connie, as well §10as of the sheep or of the Goat. Yet notwithstanding if we glut our selves with them, the meat that is clean of it self becometh unclean unto us, because we be unthankful to GOD, in that we consider not to what end he giveth us sustenance. One man rusheth forth into all excess, and yet is never the more maintained in strength of body by it: for he is ready to burst, and maketh himself altogether unwieldy. A drunkard playeth the Swine or some other brute beast, and the wine so overcometh §20him, that he hath neither wit nor reason. And although wine be a creature that God hath blessed, and have no uncleanness at all in it self: yet is it defiled by such misusing of it. Othersome never remember to give GOD thanks, nor to call upon his name. And that is an other kind of defiling our food. Again othersome abuse it to vainglory and deliciousness, and grow so far out of order, that they can no skill to serve GOD. Othersome are so §30given to dainty fare, that it maketh them to put their consciences in jeopardy, insomuch that they will not stick to make them bondslaves to all lewdness and wickedness, so they may have good cheer. Othersome are afraid of want, and fall to snatching, to filching, to catching, and to all that can be devised, to get somewhat by hook or by crook. And thus do all of us defile Gods creatures, which of themselves are clean. And that is the cause why I said,§40 that sith our Lord hath given us greater privilege, and set us more at liberty, to the end that the bondage of the law should not have dominion over us: