A17698:4058
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, whereas the world hath bin always wavering, & carried hither & thither, and could not stay nor hold it self to the serving of God, nor §50suffer it self to be guided by the doctrine which is for the salvation thereof; & to be short, whereas men play the wild beasts; it is not at the first dash that they have so resisted God, or made countenance to disobey him: but they have turned away from him by little & little, in such sort that within short time they have fallen quite & clean away. And so ye see how men have continued in their naughtiness, & not kept the law that was delivered unto them for a rule to live by, & for the way to lead §60them to salvation. Seeing it is so, we ought to take so much the more heed to the things which are showed unto us here. What must then be done? It is not enough that the truth be [but only] written: for to what end shall it serve me but to my greater condemnation? But forasmuch as men are so wedded to the things that concern this transitory life, & think not on the heavenly treasure; it is requisite that there should be good keepers: and above all things we must note that there will always be a special order to retain us evermore in the obedience of God, so long as his word is daily showed unto us, & that every man hath it in his hands. And if this be not permitted, we shall quickly be carried hither & thither, and there will be no stay in us, unless we have such a bridle to hold us back. That is a thing which we have to mark.
Moreouer, wheras the world hath bin alwaies wauering, & caried hither & thither, and could not stay nor hold it selfe to ye seruing of God, nor §50suffer it selfe to be guyded by the doctrine which is for the saluation thereof; & to be short, wheras men play the wilde beasts; it is not at the first dash yt they haue so resisted God, or made countenance to disobey him: but they haue turned away frō him by litle & litle, in such sort yt within short time they haue falne quite & cleane away. And so ye see how men haue continued in their naughtines, & not kept the lawe yt was deliuered vnto thē for a rule to liue by, & for ye way to lead §60them to saluatiō. Seeing it is so, we ought to take so much the more heede to the things which are shewed vnto vs heere. What must then be done? It is not ynough yt the truth be [but only] writtē: for to what end shall yt serue me but to my greater condemnation? But forasmuch as men are so wedded to the thinges that concerne this transitorie life, & think not on the heauenly treasure; it is requisite yt there should be good keepers: and aboue all thinges wee must note yt there will alwaies be a speciall order to retaine vs euermore in the obedience of God, so long as his worde is dayly shewed vnto vs, & that euery man hath it in his handes. And if this be not permitted, wee shall quickely be carried hither & thither, and there will be no stay in vs, vnlesse we haue such a bridle to hold vs backe. That is a thing which we haue to marke.