A17698:2185
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.
So then, let us mark well, that whereas God calleth us unto him, it is with this condition, that we should not live any more after the manner of the ignorant wretches which wot not how to order their conversation: for they do follow their own beastly lusts. It is enough (sayeth Saint Peter speaking to the heathen that had been converted to the belief of the Gospel,1) it is enough (saith he) that ye have done heretofore, ye have given too much heed to your wicked affections already, see that none of you take such licentious liberty any more, but submit your selves to Gods yoke; and sith it is gods will to have the government of you, suffer your selves to be guided by his hand, and obey his word in all things, utterly forsaking your own wicked lusts.
So then, let vs marke well, that whereas God calleth vs vnto him, it is with this condition, that wee shoulde not liue any more after the manner of the ignorant wretches which woote not howe to order their conuersation: for they doe followe their owne beastly lustes. It is ynough (saieth Saint Peter speaking to the heathen that had beene conuerted to the beleefe of the Gospell,1) it is ynough (saith hee) that yee haue done heeretofore, ye haue giuen too much heede to your wicked affections already, see that none of you take such licentious libertie any more, but submit your selues to Gods yoke; and sith it is gods wil to haue the gouernment of you, suffer your selues to be guided by his hand, and obey his worde in all thinges, vtterly forsaking your owne wicked lustes.
Now then, whereas in these days we see the world to be altogether corrupted: let us not allege other mens cross dealings in defence of our own, neither let us make a shield of them to say, why should we be held more in awe than other men? Alas, is it to be marvelled at that those should go astray, which have no light? But seeing that GOD hath sent us the Sun of righteousness, let us assure our selves that it will be no excuse for us, though the ignorant wretches do go astray after their own imaginations. Surely this is ill put in practise. For our whole seeking nowadays, is nothing else but to heap together all the offences in the world, to make a confused hotchpotch of them. If it be said that there be a number of men which are given to fraud and guile, and are full of subtlety and deceit: we rest upon that and are contented to counterfeit their vices, & to allege them in sport.