A17698:2355
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.
But now the ceremony of this feast is no longer in use, and yet the trueth thereof abideth with us still. And so we receive good and profitable instruction by the doctrine thereof, by reason whereof it cannot be thought to be needless and that it was written only for the Jews. For it was Gods will that men should be taught by it even to the worlds end, and that they should be put in mind not to swallow up Gods benefits into our paunches without thinking upon him, but rather that we should be led to give him thanks, as oft as we either eat or drink; so that whensoever we take any repast, we may consider how it is he that giveth it us, first opening the heaven to give moisture and foison to the earth, and afterward giving power to the earth to bear fruit, and finally blesseth the Corn when it is sprung up, that it may prosper to yield food unto us. Seeing then that we perceive all these things, let us have regard to benefit our selves by them. True it is (as I have touched afore) that we must not have any one day certain in the year, as the Jews had, neither ought we also to be as young children. If a man allege for his excuse, that if he do not his duty, let him not use his reward given him as a little child hath: it will not serve to ⟨p. 609⟩excuse him. Folk do not use to give a young child his breakfast till he have prayed unto God, because he hath not the wit and discretion to do it, unless he be compelled to it by some certain order. Now then if an old fellow of the age of thirty or forty years eat his meat without praying to God, he deserveth not to be beaten with a rod, but to be driven away and to be abhorred as a swine. And if he allege, I have no rule as is given §10to young children: what is that to the matter? Hast thou not discretion enough to do so much of thy self? Hast thou lived so long in the world and doest thou not yet know that thou oughtest to yield God thanks for the good which he doeth unto thee?1 Therefore it is said that the Jews were young children in comparison of the Christians: for God had given them rules according to their infirmities. As now although those things be past away in respect of us; §20yet are we the more bound to acknowledge Gods grace in his feeding & maintaining of us. And why?