A17698:3761
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.
Moses sayeth expressly, That they which are disobedient unto God, shall be besieged & shut up within their walls, until all their fortresses in which they trusted, be beaten down. Here we see how God reproveth the false and cursed presumption whereby men deceive themselves, in thinking themselves to be well fenced against him. It is a sacrilege whereby God is robbed of his honour, when we attribute unto the creatures, the mean to uphold us. It is certain that God serveth himself by §50means, & we must also apply them unto our use: but in the mean while to settle our trust upon them, were a robbing of God of his majesty. For he will have us to hold all things of him, and to do him homage for them. So then it is an intolerable presumption for us to put our trust in creatures & to ground our selves on them: and yet there is no fault more common in the world. We can say well enough, that it is not lawful, & that we ought not to do it: but in the mean while every §60one doth it. Now let us remember our selves, for there is nothing that God holdeth more dear, or whereof he maketh greater account than his honour. Neither is it sufficient for us to leave him the title & name of God: but he must also be known as he is, that is to say, that all power lieth in him, that he is the fountain of all manner of grace & goodness: that it is his proper office to maintain and preserve us: that our life is in his hand, & all things that belong thereto. When we have well thought upon this, let us take order to gather our wits so about us, as we be not grounded upon creatures. Surely the mischief is double when we shield our selves with the creatures against God, & thereby to become stubborn when he threateneth us, & to hold on still when he uttereth forth tokens of his displeasure: let us consider that the offence is then much more grievous. But yet is this over common. For whilst we perceive not any danger towards, as in respect of the world; do not we continue in our sins? And do we not abide in stubbornnesse• God speaketh: but we regard him not. So that men do favour us, & so we have wherewith to fortify our selves, we think that the hand of God can not come at us. And therefore it is not without cause that our Lord reproveth the frowardness of all such as are disobedient towards him:
Moses sayeth expressely, That they which are disobedient vnto God, shal be besieged & shut vp within their walles, vntill all their fortresses in which they trusted, be beaten downe. Here we see how God reproueth the false and cursed presumption wherby men deceiue themselues, in thinking themselues to be well fenced against him. It is a sacriledge whereby God is robbed of his honor, whē we attribute vnto the creatures, ye meane to vphold vs. It is certaine yt God serueth himselfe by