A17698:245
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.
True it is that when God is so good unto us, as to give us men to accompany us, yea and to go before us and to reach us their hand: it is a great help,1 and (as Paul telleth us) we must look wistly upon them: and when we have good servants of God which teach us and lead us with good conscience, we must mark that, and fashion our selves like to them: and in so doing we shall not follow men: for in fashioning our selves like to them that follow God, we have his way for our way. We ground not our selves one upon another, to say, Thus will I do, for I see most men do it. No: but forasmuch as God calleth us to him, it behoveth us to go, Yea though there were no mo but my self alone: yet ought I to follow my God. But if furthermore he bear with me so far, as to give me company: then must I go to him with so much the better courage: and whatsoever come of it, I must not swerve from his pure word. Thus ye see why it is said here, that Caleb the son of Jephone followed the way of the Lord, and therefore was exempted from the common condemnation. Yea and it is said that he followed constantly, that is to say, he continued throughout to the uttermost. And so we see now in effect that all the people were condemned, & that only two were acquit, because they had given glory unto God.
True it is that when God is so good vnto vs, as to giue vs men to accompanie vs, yea and to goe before vs and to reach vs their hande: it is a great helpe,1 and (as Paul telleth vs) wee must looke wistly vpon them: and when we haue good seruantes of God which teache vs and leade vs with good conscience, we must marke that, and fashion our selues like to them: and in so doing we shall not followe men: for in fashioning our selues like to them that follow God, we haue his way for our way. We grounde not our selues one vpon another, to say, Thus will I doe, for I see most men doe it. No: but forasmuch as God calleth vs to him, it behoueth vs to go, Yea though there were no mo but my selfe alone: yet ought I to follow my God. But if furthermore he beare with me so farre, as to giue me companie: then must I goe to him with so much the better corage: and whatsoeuer come of it, I must not swarue from his pure worde. Thus yee see why it is saide here, that Caleb the sonne of Iephone followed the way of the Lord, and therefore was exempted from the common condemnation. Yea and it is saide that he followed constantly, that is to say, he continued throughout to the vttermost. And so wee see nowe in effect that all the people were condemned, & that onely two were acquit, because they had giuen glorie vnto God.