A17698:2186
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 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. ⟨p. 564⟩As for mens virtues, we let them alone, and make none account of them: but as for their vices, we make a bar of them against God. O say we, ye see how such a man doth so, another doeth after that fashion: this is a common custom everywhere: and will ye have us to be holier than all other men? Besides this, it is alleged thus also. What I pray you, do not the Papists so before us? Yes: but the Papists have shaken off the yoke of our Lord Jesus §10Christ, they have withdrawn themselves from him and from his Church. True it is that they have baptism which is the sign of Christianity: but they have utterly abolished the true use of baptism, and we see how they have no skill at all either of God or of his word. As for our part, forasmuch as we have the Gospel, and that we are thereby convicted that it is Gods trueth, and we be preferred before those that were at leastwise as good as we in respect of the world, & seeing he §20hath chosen us after that fashion, are we not too much to blame, if we come not to offer our selves wholly unto him, saying, Lord govern thou us, and let us not look at other mens doings to be carried away by their misexample; but let us always be gathered together as it were under the shadow of thy wings? Thus ye see what we have to mark upon this admonition of Moseses, Know ye (saith he) that the Lord your God hath separated you out from all other §30nations of the earth.