A17698:4013
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.
WE saw yesterday how Moses did magnify the authority of the word of God which was §10committed unto him, saying: Seeing that God is come near unto us, and hath opened his holy mouth to declare unto us his will, we must hold us wholly thereunto, and without seeking any further, we must not ask any more, who shall go up into heaven, or who shall go down into the deep? For we have sure witness and such a one as cannot fail us. Seeing that God hath spoken let us follow it. He addeth here §20moreover; See, I have this day set before you, life and blessing, death and evil. Whereby he showeth us, that the word of God, when it is taught us, doeth carry with it such virtue, and such power, that we ought to hold the things which are there told us, to be as certain, as if they were already done in deed. The word which Moses doeth use in saying, See, as if he should point with his finger, to make the matter visible unto us, doeth import that we must yield such reverence to the word of God, that we §30must esteem the things therein contained, to […] as present unto us. And the same is to be applied as well to the threatenings as to the promises. If God do promise us any thing, it is not for us to cast doubts thereof, [and to say,] Yea, but how may it come to pass, seeing there is no likelihood thereof? Let us stick to that which he telleth us. Likewise if God do threaten us, we must tremble and not do as they do which tarry for the strokes, for they be so overtaken §40unawares, as they have not the power to cry alas, they be over raught with fear, and God giveth them not the grace to return unto him, because they could not find in their hearts to do him the honour, to submit themselves unto him at such time as he warned them a far off that he is their Judge. Thus are we to practise this sentence which Moses useth in saying, That when we hear the word of God, he will have us to rest altogether thereon §50and to settle our wits wholly unto it. And this ought to serve us to double purpose: that when as it shall seem unto us, that it is but lost time in this world to serve God, yet notwithstanding we may not surcease to obey him, waiting for the blessing which he hath promised us, and assuring our selves, that we shall not be deceived because he is faithful.