A17698:2199
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.
Therefore when men sit down to the table, they must in any wise beware that they take not their repast without minding of God. For why? First it is a defiling of all our meats and drinks when we begin not at the calling upon his name. Of whom shall we receive our food, if we seek it not at Gods hand? Then must we begin at prayer and that is as it were a dedication, to the end that our meats may become clean and holy unto us,1 as Saint Paul speaketh of them. But yet besides this, we must come again to the thing that is said here; namely that we must come eat as in the presence of our God. Were it well printed in our minds that our God is present at the table with us: surely we would use another manner of modesty than we do. And out of doubt, the putting of this lesson in ure, that God is among us, is a true proof of our Christianity. But it is a wonder to see what an insensibleness there is in these days among Christians. For it was Gods will that even among the Infidels there should remain still some confused tokens of that which is said here. Because the heathen were of opinion that their Gods were always attendant at their meals; they termed their Tables holy. And why so? It is certain that they understood not the reason of it: for all things were become unholy among them, by their misusing of all things against their kind. Yet notwithstanding, God to make them unexcusable, did leave this mark still among them, as if he should say, whensoever men do eat and drink, I am present at it, so as all things done there must needs come to account before me. Now then, if we know less hereof than those blind wretches, what a thing is it? So much the more therefore ought we to mark well this lesson, where God commandeth the people of old time to eat and drink in his presence, to the intent that the same might hold them in awe, and make them to consider that whensoever they did eat or drink, God governed them and beheld their doings. And now although we have not the ceremony that was under the law; yet let the trueth thereof have his force among us:
Therefore when men sit downe to the table, they must in any wise beware that they take not their repaste without minding of God. For why? First it is a defiling of all our meates and drinkes when wee begin not at the calling vppon his name. Of whom shall we receiue our foode, if we seeke it not at Gods hand? Then must wee beginne at prayer and that is as it were a dedication, to the ende that our meates may become cleane and holy vnto vs,