A17698:2562
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 if the people speak against them; it is because they have no light. But let the blind go on into decay & destruction, seeing they cannot be held §60back: & in the mean while hold you your selves to the simplicity of the doctrine. And for this cause it is said to the Prophet Isaiah; Seal up the Testimony of God, & let it be unto you as a letter that is closed up, seeing there is nothing but unbelief everywhere. And yet for all it, cease not to hold you still to it quietly and obediently.
And if the people speake against them; it is bycause they haue no light. But let ye blind go on into decay & destruction, seeing they cannot be helde §60back: & in the meane while hold you your selues to ye simplicitie of the doctrine. And for this cause it is said to ye Prophet Esay; Seale vp ye Testimonie of God, & let it be vnto you as a letter that is closed vp, seeing there is nothing but vnbeliefe eueriwhere. And yet for all yt, ceasse not to holde you still to it quietly and obediently.
Now if this fell out in old time among the Jews: needs must we find the like nowadays, as is showed by the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrews,1 who applieth this text to the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, & to the state of the Christian Church. Then if they which were desirous to have served God purely were abhorred; & that not of the heathen but of such as named themselves the Church of God: it becometh us nowadays to bear it patiently, if the world not only look awry upon us, but also hold us for accursed. Yet notwithstanding, we may well defy the Papists with all their pride and devilish overweening, sith we see them to be backsliders & to have forsaken God; & (as much as in them lieth) to have renounced their baptism. Let us learn to hold our selves to the law. And although Gods trueth be not received; yet let us keep it still as a letter closed up, & as a treasure laid up in store. And when we see all other men wander away, some after superstitions, & some after errors: let us assure our selves that the way is infallible, so we hearken to our God, and endeavour to behave our selves according to his will, & we cannot miss the way, it is so certain, as Moses saith hereafter: This is the way,