A17698:3437
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 it is expressly said: I have done all things which thou hast commanded me, and according unto ⟨p. 905⟩thy statutes, and I have not forgotten them. We see here, what is the rule of good life: Namely to do according as God hath commanded us; which suffereth us not to dwell in doubt, as the ignorant wretches do, who know not at what end to begin, because they are not instructed in the word of God. Ye see how in Popery, when a man would live as he ought to do, he listeneth to that which one saith, & to that which an other saith, he is turned and returned with every wind, and §10every man bringeth in his piece, so as they are always to learn how to begin. To the intent therefore that we be not wavering nor doubting: let us hold our selves unto that, which is so often warned us in the holy scripture, and whereof we have a confirmation in this place: that is, that we may be at defiance with all the world, if we keep on in the way which God hath showed us. Now I grant that men may find things enough in us wherefore to blame us: as we see §20what outcries the Papists make, and how they storm and say that we despise the traditions of our holy mother the Church, and the decrees of holy councils, that we overthrow all order, that our life is loose and licentious, and that our whole desire is to lead a brutish and beastly life. These be the things which they upbraid us withal. And why? Because we forsake their tyranny, because we will none of their pelting baggage which they have devised, because we §30will not be hampered with their cords, (for all their laws and statutes which they have forged, are as cords to strangle poor weak souls with all) and because we cast aside all those things. Now hereupon they indict us. But let us appear before God, and then we may defy them: yea, we shall have sufficient for our defence, if we can make this protestation truly; God is my witness that I have behaved my self according to his word. Surely this is an inestimable §40comfort that all they have, which swerve not from the pure and simple plainness of the word of God; but follow this plain path, respecting nothing but how to obey him which hath all sovereignty, and authority over us. When we have done so; let us be contented that God liketh of our doings, though men condemn us for them.