A17698:2459
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.
And for the same cause also it is added expressly, that they must root out the evil from among them. Whereby he doth us to wit, that the suffering of idolatry and superstition, is a cankerworm and corruption that infecteth all things. And as I said afore, if men had been well bridled at the beginning, surely they had never come to such Apostasy; that is to say, they had never withdrawn themselves after that fashion from the obedience of God. For what else is §50Popery, but a corruption which hath drawn all men from the obeying of God, so as all became backsliders, all have gone astray, and all have broken the promise of their baptism? And whereof came this, but of mens nourishing of the evil by their winking at it and their concealing of it, until the infection was so spread abroad, that both great and small were poisoned therewith? Now then, if we will hold ourselves in the pure obedience of God, let us do our endeavour §60that the mischief may be rooted out from among us, specially being a mischief that bringeth so great an infection with it: For it is not possible for us to scape infection, if it abide among us. And for the same cause the Apostle (in the Epistle to the Hebrews) exhorteth us to pluck up the wicked weeds,1 before they be full grown: for it will amaze us when they shall pick out our eyes; and yet there is no remedy but it must be so, if we suffer them to grow any long time. Therefore as soon as we see any evil sprout out, we must take it away as much as we can, that we may be quite and clean rid of it. Yea and although one man could not be enticed to wickedness by the example of another; yet is Gods wrath kindled and increased still among us, when the evil abideth so unpunished. And therefore S. Paul speaking of the incest that was suffered among the Corinthians,2 sayeth unto them; Put away the evil from among you. As if he had said, ye wretched men, the crime that is among you provoketh Gods vengeance against your whole Nation, if it be so suffered: and therefore if ye intend to be exempted from Gods wrath, let not that evil be suffered or nourished any longer. And this is a sufficient proof of that which I have touched; namely that God in commanding all the people to put to their hand to the stoning of idolaters, showeth us that the thing concerneth us all: