A17698:3405
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 even yet for all this they cannot stay themselves from boasting, (such beasts are they) neither §20understand they how it is a certain kind of drunkenness that turneth them so away to vaunt themselves after that fashion, and to bear themselves so in hand, that they have this and that [which they have not.] Thus ye see how men presume marvellously of themselves until their prating be daunted: but when God once thundereth upon all mankind, and showeth that we are all heirs of death, that we are the bondslaves of Satan, that there is nothing in us but §30cursedness, that all our wisdom is stark foolishness, that we cannot bring any thing unto him which he shall not mislike and condemn. When we see that the holy scripture painteth us forth after that manner, so as there remaineth nothing to us but utter shame: then we begin to hang down the heads. But unless God used this manner of dealing with us, it were unpossible to win us, but we would always lift up our horns. Let us §40therefore bear this lesson well in mind, as it is taught us here, which is, to bethink us of our first original, whence we are come, whence we are sprung, what we were when God first took pity of us, and what we should yet have bin if he had not prevented us with his goodness. After that we have once known this in general, let every man particularly also have an eye unto himself. He which thinketh that he hath somewhat to glory in as touching the world (as there are many which will say, I am borne of §50such a kindred, there is such a thing in me, and another will glory in his wisdom, and another in his virtue, and another in his riches, an other in his birth) let him I say look upon himself and say, yea: but for all this, how many shameful marks hath God imprinted in me, as well as in all others? And first of all, that how highly soever a man be exalted, yet as soon as God withdraweth his strength, behold he is no better than a wretched carrion: and again, what is the soul §60but a bottomless gulf of all wretchedness? And if any man have a good understanding: it is without doubt the especial gift of God. And moreover they which are the most excellent of all others and best accounted of in the world, have yet many spots and stains in them, so as they have wherefore daily to lament.