A17698:3713
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 seeing that we perceive the natural sense of Moses, let us understand that amongst all the blessings of GOD which we enjoy in this present life, this ought to be preferred above all the rest: namely, to have liberty to serve our GOD, and to make confession of our faith, and to declare that we be his people, of his Church and of his flock. Truly it is slenderly known: howbeit, it is not in vain that we be admonished thereof. Seeing then, that it hath been the will of God to plant his Church amongest us, and that we should have his word and his sacraments, by the which he declareth that he dwelleth amongest us: let us accept such a blessing according as it is worthy: It will serve us to a double use. First of all, when we fare the better by the doctrine that is preached unto us every day, such a treasure perisheth not but through our own unthankfulness: as we see that many folk think it enough to be at sermons, and it seemeth unto them, that God hath his duty, so they have used some ceremony. But in the mean while the seed of life doeth perish without yielding any fruit. To the end therefore that we may apply the blessing that GOD bestoweth on us, to this use: when as we have liberty to hear his doctrine, and to be trained therein, and have the Sacraments for an establishment of our faith, and may declare that it is the living God whom we worship and that he governeth ⟨p. 983⟩us: I say, let the same profit us: and so will it, if we acknowledge that our Lord can not bestow on us any greater blessing than that is. And in the mean while we will take it patiently if other things do fail us: as where many want their commodities, let them not be grieved at the children of this world, which have their delights, and do triumph, weltering themselves in their earthly pleasures, if the children of God have not the same, let them know that §10they enjoy a thing which recompenseth double, yea an hundred fold: that is, that they can serve God. For to what purpose is it, that these wretched people which dwell in papistry may lye slumbering in their nests, and in the mean while be banished from the kingdom of GOD, and that Christ Jesus himself and his word be banished from the country wherein they dwell? What availeth it, that they be served in their houses, and in the mean while be not suffered §20to serve GOD?