A17698:3770
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 finally Moses saith: If thou keep not all the words of this law for to do them, and fear no• this dreadful and glorious name: that is to say the eternal thy God. Verily it seemeth at the first sight, that Moses requireth of men above measure, that which is not in their power: for who is he that can fulfil all the law of God? And again, though a man miss in some certain points, should GOD use such rigour? I have told you heretofore, that he directeth this talk towards them that be altogether given over to evil, and to such as be despisers of God to break his law by all means they can. To what end then doth he require such a perfection? Let us first of all mark that GOD will not have his law chopped into pieces & gobbe•s: for there in he setteth forth his righteousness unto us. Men therefore must not make a parting of stakes in this case at their own pleasure, as who would say, I will, for Gods honour, abstain from whoredom, ⟨p. 999⟩but yet I will steal: I will abstain from murder, but yet I will be a blasphemer:1 No, but seeing that he which hath forbidden to rob, hath also forbidden to kill; and he which hath forbidden fornication, hath in likewise forbidden to blaspheme: let us learn to obey him in all points and all respects, let us restrain our senses, and bridle our affections, and to be short, let us come to the point to give over our selves wholly to the service of our God.§10 So ought we to do: and that is the thing also whereunto Moses hath respect. For if we miss in any one point, we be accursed of God, and deserve the rigour which is mentioned here. Nevertheless he of his mercy ceaseth not to bear with us: yea and he will never use the great severity that is spoken of here, but towards such as set themselves altogether stubbornly against him. Yet notwithstanding, it is not without cause, that Moses doth here exhort the Jews §20to the perfect observation of the law. A Physician prescribing an order, giveth not the bridle to the appetite of his patient, to do any thing amiss how little soever it be: but he faith, I will have you to do thus, and thus. Now if the sick man do step any whit aside, very well, he is not yet incurable, the Physician will have a care of him still. But if he will needs set all at six and at seven (as they say,) and cast off all order, and play the madman;