A17698:4130
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.
to wit, that when the Gospel is preached, if we accept the message which is offered unto us, we have GOD for our father, we be assured of his free adoption, and we may freely call upon him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus ye see how we ought to be ravished with joy, when God showeth himself so good and gracious towards us. Nevertheless, if we despise so great a benefit, or abuse it as the hypocrites do, or if we be scorners of God, or loose livers; or if we be so wedded to this present world, that the heavenly inheritance seemeth nothing unto us: God will hold scorn of us also, and moreover there shall not one only word be spoken, which shall not ask vengeance against us at the last day: God will have infinite witnesses. Look how many sermons have been made, look how many lectures have been read, and look how many books have been printed: and they shall all be witnesses to condemn us as guilty, and to make us inexcusable before God. Although then that this ceremony of having a book laid up as it were in the presence of God, be not now observed: yet notwithstanding seeing we have God with us in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that Jesus Christ hath received and avowed us for his Church, and also authorised his Gospel according as we perceive by this saying of his, He that heareth you,1 heareth me, and he that refuseth you refuseth me; Seeing (say I) that we be at this point; there needeth none other process to be framed against us. Let us look therefore that we withal reverence and fear receive the doctrine which is delivered unto us in the name of our God, to the end we be not judged and condemned thereby at the last day. According whereunto our Lord Jesus Christ threateneth the Jews in an other place, saying: It is not I that will condemn you,2 but the word which you have heard at my mouth shall be your judge. So then, let us take heed while our Lord allureth us unto him gently, and let us go to him: and let our whole seeking be to put ourselves as sheep under the guiding of our shepherd: and then shall not the word be a witness against us, nor serve to condemn us: but much rather we shall have in the law a certain Pawn of our salvation: and we shall see in the end, that it is not a vain doctrine.
to witte, that when the Gospell is preached, if wee accept the message which is offered vnto vs, wee haue GOD for our father, we bee assured of his free adoption, and we may freely cal vpon him in the name of our Lord Iesus Christ. Thus ye see howe wee ought to be rauished with ioy, when God sheweth himselfe so good and gratious towardes vs. Neuerthelater, if we despise so great a benefite, or abuse it as the hypocrites do, or if we be skorners of God, or loose liuers; or if we be so wedded to this present worlde, that the heauenly inheritance seemeth nothing vnto vs: God wil holde skorne of vs also, and moreouer there shal not one onely word be spoken, which shal not ask vengeance against vs at the last day: God will haue infinite witnesses. Looke how manie sermons haue beene made, looke howe manie lectures haue beene reade, and looke howe manie bookes haue beene printed: and they shal al be witnesses to condemme vs as guiltie, and to make vs inexcusable before God. Although then yt this ceremonie of hauing a booke laid vp as it were in the presence of God, be not now obserued: yet notwithstanding seeing we haue God with vs in the person of our Lord Iesus Christ, and that Iesus Christ hath receiued and auowed vs for his Church, and also authorised his Gospel according as we perceiue by this saying of his, He yt heareth you,