A17698:3517
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.
But now let us come unto the rehearsal which Moses maketh of the curses: he saith first of all, Cursed be he which maketh any Idol or any molten Image, or any carved Image: all this is abomination unto God: and cursed is he which putteth it in any secrete place. And all the people shall say Amen. Let us note that Moses doth not specify in this place all the curses, every one by himself, but he setteth down certain examples, to show that all they which swerve aside from the law of God, seek nothing else but to run wilfully into utter ruin and destruction. The effect therefore of all this is, that if we will prosper, we must draw near unto God, seeing that he is the fountain of all happiness, and prosperity. Whereas on the other side all they which depart from him do go and cast themselves into utter destruction: but all they which cast off the yoke of God, that is to say, which yield not themselves to follow his law and his word, all they depart from him, and do as much as in them lieth, to banish themselves from his presence. And so it is all one as if they did cast ⟨p. 927⟩themselves into the bottom of hell, and sought nothing else in this present life, but to provoke the vengeance of God against them, & so to seek their own woe. Behold what we have to bear in mind. Now God beginneth with his own service: and not without cause: for (as we have declared afore,) the law is divided into two tables:1 to show us that men ought first of all so to behave themselves as God may be honoured: & this is the first and principal duty which we §10ought to perform, because we are his creatures, & because he hath fashioned us unto his glory: let us tend unto that end, and let our life be referred thereunto, seeing the first table showeth us so briefly how we ought to behave our selves towards our God. That is the cause why God saith now in these curses; Cursed be he which maketh any Idol. But I have told you that Moses rehearseth only certain sorts, and that is to comprehend the whole in one part, as we have seen §20examples thereof. In effect therefore when it is said: Cursed be he which maketh any Idol, it is all one as if Moses had in general pronounced a curse upon them, which falsify and corrupt the service and worship of God, as if he he should say: You know how and after what manner our God will be worshipped of us;