A17698:2586
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.
For in as much as they resort to dead creatures, or to such creatures as have no reason nor understanding; they must needs be always uncertain. But if we fear our God; we shall be sure of all things. The fear of God is the best hold that we can have.1 I mean such a reverend fear of GOD, as therewithal we take him for our father. For if we be aghast at him, we shall still be in never the less anguish & unquietness. But if we submit our selves to God ⟨p. 669⟩for love; surely his protection shall avail us to rest upon, so as we may defy Satan and all that he practiseth against us. On the contrary part, when we fear not God, we shall be afraid both of the birds and of the beasts, of the wind and of the rain, of the Sun and of the Moon, of the earth and of the heaven; and to be short, even our own shadows (as men say) shall make us afraid. And as for them which submit them selves to the Sun and Moon, and make Idols §10of them as though they had dominion over us: all such do show in deed that they have no fear of God in them, and therefore needs must they be carried away anew. And that is the cause why the Prophet Jeremiah expressly forbiddeth us to be afraid of the signs of the heaven,2 at leastwise according to the enchantments which the Infidels have invented, as is said already. For if we be afraid of them after the manner, we bereave God of his dominion,§20 and impart it to the Stars and other dead creatures. But God will have the Sun & the Moon to give us light, and to do us service with their natural use, (as the Sun to heat the earth, & the Moon and the Stars to give their influences:) I say he will have all these so to keep their natures and proprieties; as that he himself alone be the governor notwithstanding. For when we imagine that the Sun or the Moon have such power over us, that we cannot go one step §30without they bring us some misadventure or prosperity by their aspects towards us: is not God himself so much debased? Yes verily. If it be said that God worketh by his creatures: that is true: but yet will he not do it after that fashion. We must have an eye to the mean which he hath held, and we must not go beyond that.