A17698:2520
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 by the way, let us mark also, that here the holy Ghost meant to show us the use of the holy scripture.1 For (as saith Saint Paul) it is behoofefull to make the man of God perfect in all good works. Therefore whensoever we read the holy Scripture or hear it preached; let us have this regard of profiting in the fear of God; and let us not think our selves to be so far forward, that we should not need to go on still all our life long. A man might think it strange that it should be said, that he should learn to fear God. For why? Should a king be a novice when he is once chosen? Ought he not to be well known aforehand to be a man of excellent virtue? Yes verily. But yet doeth it stand us in hand to be learners still: ⟨p. 651⟩the fear of God is a thing that is not learned perfectly at the first day. And therefore let us continue in it all the time of our life, and yet we shall find that when we have lived never so long, we be but in the midst of our journey. The thing then which we have to mark in Moseses words, is that when kings have the book of the law, they must not keep it shut, or set it out to show like a relic; but the king must exercise himself in it, & his reading of it must not §10be as it were but for a pastime, as who should say, I have read it, and that is a sufficient discharge for me: but it must be to the end that he which was in good forwardness already, and had served God in his youth, should be the more quickened up to do so still: knowing well that in as much as God cometh so near unto him, he is the more straitly bound to live virtuously. That is the very thing in effect which we have to bear away, and moreover §20we •ust every one of us apply the same to his own use, as I have said afore.
And by the way, let vs marke also, that here the holy Ghost meant to shewe vs the vse of the holy scripture.1 For (as saith Saint Paul) it is behoofefull to make the man of God perfect in all good workes. Therefore whensoeuer we read the holy Scripture or heare it preached; let vs haue this regarde of profiting in the feare of God; and let vs not think our selues to be so far forwarde, that wee shoulde not neede to go on still all our life long. A man might thinke it strange that it shoulde bee sayde, that he should learne to feare God. For why? Shoulde a king bee a nouice when hee is once chosen? Ought hee not to bee well knowen aforehande to bee a man of excellent vertue? Yes verily. But yet doeth it stande vs in hande to bee learners still: