A17698:257
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 then acknowledge the sin that you have committed, for God hath brought me low, and it is his will to show you in my person, that you be well worthy to perish every one of you. Therefore besides the thing that I have touched already, (which is, that we must not like the better of our selves when our faults are unknown [to our selves,] or when we can cover §30them, for Gods eyes are not blindfolded for all it, and the things that scape men are enrolled before him): we must mark moreover, that if we give any man an occasion [of stumbling or offending], although he on his part is not thereby discharged, yet must our offence needs be the more grievous and heavy, according as it is in very deed. Wherefore let every man so behave himself, as he give not his neighbours any occasion of stumbling. For if any man §40sin under pretence of me, if he be misled by my lewd conversation, if he take ill example by my vices: all the whole mischief shall be laid in my neck before God, I shall be discharged, woe shall be unto me as saith our Lord Jesus Christ,1 and it were better for me that I were cast into the midst of the sea with a millstone about my neck, than to have given my neighbour any cause of misbehaviour. And therefore let us live in such sort, as it may not be cast in our teeth §50before GOD, that we have been the cause of other mens ruin and destruction. For it will cost us very dear, if the silly souls whom God hath created after his own image, and whom Jesus Christ hath so dearly redeemed, be lost through our fault and wickedness. Thus we see in effect what we have to note upon this sentence, where Moses saith, that GOD was angry with him by means of the people.
Nowe then acknowledge the sinne that you haue committed, for God hath brought me low, and it is his will to shewe you in my person, that you bee well worthie to perish eueriechone of you. Therefore besides the thing that I haue touched alreadie, (which is, that we must not like ye better of our selues whē our faults are vnknowen [to our selues,] or when we can couer §30them, for Gods eies are not blindfolded for al yt, and the thinges that scape men are inrolled before him): wee must marke moreouer, that if wee giue anie man an occasion [of stumbling or offending], although hee on his parte is not thereby discharged, yet must our offence needs be the more grieuous and heauie, according as it is in very deede. Wherefore let euery man so behaue himselfe, as hee giue not his neighbours any occasion of stumbling. For if any man