A17698:4028
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.
Moreover it is said that both blessing and cursing are set before our eyes when we have the word. Why so? For when our Lord traineth us unto him, what remaineth then? Is not he our life and the length of our days? Shall we live when we be parted away from God which is the fountain of life and of all manner of happiness? If we take this word God [in our mouth] and do not understand whose we be, nor what we owe him; we make him but an idol, he is but a fantasy: as there be many which talk enough of God, but yet they do not think that they leave him empty of all his glory. But it is not for us to speak after that manner of our God: we must yield unto him that which belongeth to his majesty. Behold, our God is the fountain of life, he is the wellspring of virtue, of joy, of felicity, & of glory. To be brief, the fullness of all goodness lieth in him; and therefore as soon as we turn away from him, we cannot have any drop of those things: but all manner of mischief shall pursue us. That is the thing which Moses hath declared unto us in this place. So then by this word God, and by his proper office, he showeth us, that when we have his word, we must not then any longer stagger, neither is there any excuse for the misbelievers which do not this honour to God, to conclude & to answer Amen, as soon as he saith the word. And why? For it is alone as if they renounced him. And the Apostle useth as it were a like reason, in the Epistle to the Hebrews,1 where he sayeth: For as much as it is the office of GOD to search mens hearts, he hath also given ⟨p. 1071⟩the same power to his word, so as it must pierce our bones, and soak even into the marrow and into the very thoughts. He putteth down there a likeness and conformity betwixt God and his word. So also in this place Moses telleth us, that it is not for us to cavil or wrangle any more, when we have once been instructed by the word of God. For therein he showeth himself what he is, there must we behold his power. Now then, if we entitle God to this §10praise that he is our life, and the length of our days, it is certain that we must find the same in Gods word, and thereof we ought to be throughly well assured.
Moreouer it is sayde that both blessing and cursing are set before our eyes when wee haue the worde. Why so? For when our Lord trayneth vs vnto him, what remayneth then? Is not hee our life and the length of our dayes? Shall wee liue when wee bee parted away from God which is the fountaine of life and of all manner of happinesse? If wee take this worde God [in our mouth] and do not vnderstande whose we bee, nor what wee owe him; wee make him but an idoll, hee is but a fantasie: as there be many which talke ynough of God, but yet they doe not thinke that they leaue him emptie of all his glorie. But it is not for vs to speake after that manner of our God: wee must yeelde vnto him that which belongeth to his maiestie. Beholde, our God is the fountayne of life, hee is the welspring of vertue, of ioy, of felicitie, & of glorie. To bee briefe, the fulnesse of all goodnesse lyeth in him; and therefore as soone as wee turne away from him, wee cannot haue any droppe of those things: but all manner of mischiefe shall pursue vs. That is the thing which Moses hath declared vnto vs in this place. So then by this worde God, and by his proper office, he sheweth vs, that when we haue his word, we must not then any longer stagger, neither is there any excuse for the misbeleeuers which do not this honor to God, to conclude & to answere Amen, as soone as he saith the word. And why? For it is alone as if they renounced him. And ye Apostle vseth as it were a like reason, in the Epistle to the Hebrewes,