A17698:2595
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 now let us mark that these things here are not noted as small & tolerable faults: but it is said expressly, that they be abominable before God, & that the people of Canaan were to be rooted out for such crimes & misdeeds. Whereby we see that although other vices were to be pardoned, yet ought this to be punished and utterly rotted out. Therefore if we will be taken for Gods people, let us see that we understand what this word Abomination betokeneth:§40 namely that we must be very ware of sorceries, enchantments, & such other like things. And indeed we see how such things have ever bin misliked, even among the heathen. How much soever witchcraft had reigned, yet was it a great thing for a man to have asked, is this well done? For every man would have said, How so? It is a monster: it is a shameful & cursed thing. After that manner did the heathen speak thereof. For it was Gods will that it should be so engraven in mens §50harts, as it might be reproved even without the doctrine of the law. True it is that in Popery all are witches in their idolatries: for in the fifteenth of the first book of Samuel▪ 1God coupleth those two sins together: yea & I have told you already, that the service of the dead is a kind of witchcraft. Yet notwithstanding they always abhor the term, and utterly mislike thereof. And why? Because God hath suffered it to make them the more unexcusable. So then let us mark, that it is not for us to suffer either §60enchanters or witches among us. And if these be forbidden; we must understand therewithal, that all other kinds of Wizardry are deadly crimes before God. And if Judges & Magistrates do their duties, it is certain that they will no more bear with them than with murders. It seemeth a small fault to turn about the sieve (as we term it in this coū try): but it is more worthy to be punished, than the flaying of a man quick. For why? It is an overthrowing of Gods service, and a perverting of the order of nature. Were it not worthy of punishment and punishment again, if the order of nature should be confounded between men and brute beasts? Were there any reason in so doing? And surely when men begin with such enchantments, it is certain that they fall into a deeper and dreadfuller dungeon, than if they give over their bodies to company with the brute beasts. And yet we see the self same illusions to be wrought by satan upon all witches & sorcerers.