A17698:3491
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.
A second point to be observed is that we ought, as much as we may possibly to maintain unity & agreement among us; as shall by & by be declared. It was Gods will there should be no mo temples but one. And why? To the intent it should be as a bond to hold the people together in the pureness and soundness of faith. We have one only God which is called upon among us, we must come into one certain place to sacrifice unto him, all of us must there gather ourselves together. It is true in deed that we are not nowadays tied unto any such bondage; but howsoever it be, yet the substance is remaining still unto us. Let us therefore ⟨p. 920⟩take heed unto all those aids which we have to hold us in this communion of faith, and in this unity which God requireth, let us keep them well, and let no man turn aside from them. And as touching the outward order, we know that our Lord Jesus christ would have men to assemble them selves together. I grant we are not bound to be all in one place, & men also preach in divers churches of one town. And why? Because all the world can not hear one sermon: but yet §10for all that, because of our slowness we are so bound that we must gather our selves together in the name of God. He that will keep him self in his house, despising the common order, and will say, I can read at home & edify my self sufficiently there▪ that man as much as in him lieth breaketh in sunder the unity of faith & teareth in pieces the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. We know that baptism was ordained to the intent it should be as a common seal that we are the church of God, & §20are governed with his spirit. Now if every man will have his baptism a part, what a wicked disorder were it? The holy supper of the Lord also is distributed as a common food to the intent we should all communicate of it. We are wa•ned by it that we are one body. And as one loaf is made of many grains of corn, which are so mingled together that they make but one substance; even so ought we to be knit together, if we will be accounted for the children of God. Therefore if every man should §30have his private supper, were it not a withdrawing of ourselves from the agreement & brotherhood which Jesus Christ would have us to keep? In Popery every man must have his altar & his chapel. Yea & they were of opinion, that God was much bound unto them for so doing.