A17698:357
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.
Here Moses confirmeth yet better the thing that I treated of before: that is to wit, that men must not give themselves to foolish §30enterprises, as every mans fancy leads him: but we must have an eye what is lawful. And thereof there is none other trial, than to hearken what God commandeth and promiseth us. For his will must be our sure rule. Whosoever thrusteth himself forth to do what he liketh best, although he be able to justify his doings before men, and can set never so many fair colours upon them: yet shall he always be condemned before God.§40 Therefore let us bear in mind, that to live as it becometh us, we must have this soberness and modesty with us, that we adventure not any further than his word will bear us out. True it is that the talk here is only of wars: but we must apply the doctrine thereof to our general use. For like as God chose his people of Israel to make them as a looking glass for his Church: so must we apply all the things to our selves which are written of them. For the perfection §50of the things that are contained here,1 belongeth to us as showeth saint Paul. Now were this well observed we should not have such disorder in our life, as we see. For every man hath his liking by himself, and according to his liking, so flingeth he forth to attempt things, and we never stand to inquire what God commandeth, but our own affections carry us away, and inflame us in such wise, that every one runs after the thing that he lighteth upon: and so we §60do but gad up and down all our life long. But here it is told us, that men must not reach out their hands to adventure upon any thing at all, further forth than GOD hath given them leave. When he saith, go: our going is not at all adventure, but it is matched with a promise, Behold (saith he) the Lord hath delivered Sehon king of Hesebon into thy hands. As if he should say, men must not have an eye to any thing that may draw their desire to it afore hand, as we see that our nature doeth drive us thereunto: for scarcely can we tell how to open our eyes, but some lewd liking will tickle us. And what is the cause thereof? It is for that we be not fully persuaded of this principle, that we must let all things alone which are not granted us of God.