A17698:2184
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.
it is because he was not so gracious to them, as to give them the instruction that was peculiar to the children of Abraham, & to the holy linage which he had chosen from the whole world. Now notwithstanding all this, if the Jews had §50complained that God held them in more subjection than he did the heathen, and that their own estate was worse than theirs: might we not say that it were too great an unthankfulness? If a Jew should say, How now? Seeing that God hath chosen us for his children, why doth he not give us as great liberty at the least, as he hath given to those that belong not unto him? Is it meet that we should be inferior to them? If a Jew should speak after that manner, we would be his judges, and every of us §60would say, fie on him wretch, he showeth himself too too unhonest & churlish. For seeing that god hath chosen them for his people, & instructed them in his pure doctrine: should they find fault with him for his holding of them under the obedience of his law? But now let us apply this to our selves. For in as much as God hath gathered us together into his house; he will have us to walk more carefully and warily, than the silly ignorant souls that are strayed from the way of Salvation. If we say that that were too rough and severe a dealing; we our selves are too unthankful. It is said that we must live as children of the light:1 & no marvel it is though such as have not learned Gods word do stut and stumble, & go astray; for they be like blind wretches in the dark.2 But we have Gods word, which is as a lamp to give us light, and again we have been enlightened by the holy Ghost, so as we know the will of God. And shall we now run astray as though we had never known any good doctrine? Now then whereas God hath tied us shorter than he hath tied the ignorant; if we thereupon will needs shake off his yoke and fall to checking at him, as though we had lever to have the licentious liberty of the unbelievers, than to be held under the obedience of God our father: we were worthy to be rooted out of the world. For it were too great a defacing of Gods gracious goodness, to do so, when GOD hath chosen us to himself and given us his badge, as if he should say, I will reign among you, let it appear that ye have been in my school, let not my showing of my self to have been your father and Saviour be in vain.