A17698:2563
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.
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,2 walk therein. But for the better understanding hereof, let us mark the words that are set down here. The people (saith he) whose land you must possess, are imbrued with many lies & abuses: but you shall not do so; especially if we will be taken for Gods flock, & accounted for his household folk; we must be separated from all the rest of the world. Let us learn then that our faith must not waver, nor wander after our eyes: but we must settle our sight & all our senses upon that which God telleth us. Though we saw a thousand stumbling blocks to dazzle our eyes withal, yea & to put us to trouble: yet must we yield such authority to Gods word, that it may hold us still in awe. They then that run gadding at the sight of this example or that example, do well show that they were never throughly grounded upon the word of God. And therefore this saying is of great importance, when God setteth the things which he uttereth with his mouth, as a counterpoise against all things that are to be seen in the world.
Now if this fel out in old time among ye Iewes: needs must we find ye like nowadais, as is shewed by ye Apostle in ye Epistle to the Hebrewes,