A17698:3420
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 it is▪ by and by added: Thou shalt leave thine offering before the Lord thy God, and afterward thou shalt worship before the Lord thy God. These §30two things do show that we must not be the colder in doing our duty, though there be no man to bear witness there of. And it is a point which we ought to mark well. For we are always led with vainglory; and we cannot practise this doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ where he saith, When thou givest thine alms,1 let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth. We would always have some or other to see us and to praise us. And although we cause not a trumpet §40to be sounded: yet are we desirous that men should know what we do. And what is the cause thereof, but that we have not our eye so fastened on God as were requisite? Therefore this foolish vainglory must needs bear rule in us, by means whereof we seek nothing but to please the world. And therefore we may not look that God should acknowledge that which we do for his service: for we are turned aside from him. Let us therefore learn to practise the doctrine §50which is set down here, which is to leave our offerings in the presence of our God: and to hold our selves contented that God avoweth himself to receive that which we give the poor, and that which we bestow according unto his will, even as though he were come down, and received our gifts from our hands into his own hand. And seeing it is so, let us not fear that any thing is lost, though the world perceive not what we do, and that we seem to have done nothing §60at all. Let it suffice us as is showed us here by this saying, that our Lord GOD is come before, and accepteth of that which we have done, to obey him. Let this be noted for one point.
And it is▪ by and by added: Thou shalt leaue thine offring before the Lorde thy God, and afterward thou shalt worshippe before the Lord thy God. These §30two things do shew that we must not be the colder in doing our dutie, though there be no man to beare witnes there of. And yt is a poynt which we ought to marke wel. For we are alwayes led with vaineglorie; and we cannot practise this doctrine of our Lord Iesus Christ where he saith, When thou giuest thine almes,