A17698:3711
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 said expressly, That as well the king §40as the subjects shall serve strange Gods yea even of stone and of wood, that is to say, puppets and Idols. No doubt but that God by these words meant to utter how dreadful punishment was to come upon the Jews. For albeit that the nourishment that God giveth us, and in like wise, all the Testimonies of his fatherly love and goodness appertaining to this transitory life, be to be highly esteemed: yet the most singular benefit that we receive as long as we §50live in the world, is that we have Religion well ordered, that his service be pure amongst us, that we call upon him, and that it be lawful for us to claim him as our GOD, and that we be not berayde and defiled with superstition and Idolatry. That (say I) is the principal good thing whereunto the faithful should aspire: and we be very blocks and beasts, if we prefer not the same before all manner of riches and pleasures, and before all our case and commodities.§60 Now then on the contrary part, the plague which ought to be most dreadful to us, and the horriblest calamity that can fall upon us, is to be deprived of Gods service, and to have our mouth shut, so as we can not call upon him: and not only that, but also through Tyranny to be compelled to honour Idols, and to defile ourselves with their abominations, and to pervert that which GOD hath ordained for the magnifying of his name amongest us. When things be thus confounded, let us understand that GOD is departed from us, and declareth himself to be our mortal enemy, and hath quite forsaken and refused us, and is loath that we should thenceforth have any token or inkling at all, either of his presence or of his favour. And so, whereas Moses sayeth in this Text, That the Jews shall serve strange Gods, he meaneth to threaten them more dreadfully than before. As if he should say; Right grievous will it be unto you when you shall be famished and want bread to eat, and water to drink, when your enemies shall rob you of all your substance, and make havoc of all your possessions, when ye shall pine away in grief and sorrow, without any mean to help you: surely these will be very hard things for you, specially when you can obtain no favour of your enemies, who shall be as wild beasts against you:
Nowe it is sayde expresly, That as well the king §40