A17698:4144
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 Moses having used such a preface, wisheth, that his doctrine may be like a flowing rain, so as it may moisten like the drops that fall upon the grass, and shed abroad like the dew which watereth the meadows. And why? For (saith he) I will call upon the name of the Lord, I will exhort men to give glory unto God. Here Moses showeth, that when we be about to set forth the praise of God, and to treat of his goodness, wisdom, and power, to the intent he may be honoured of men as he deserveth, it is not for us to use a common and ordinary kind of ⟨p. 1105⟩speech, but we must strain our wit and skill to the uttermost of our powers, that our words may be answerable to the infinite majesty of God: or if they cannot attain thereunto, (as in deed we must needs come far short of that,) they may at leastwise come as near as is possible, and tend to that end. When we speak of worldly matters, we may well use a common style, & yet if we treat of any matter of importance, we sharpen our wits to speak after the §10best manner that we can, for (to our seeming) the thing is worth it. But when we come to GOD: then must we use a new and more exquisite manner of speaking: specially when we will maintain his majesty against men, and show that he is worthy to be honoured of all men, because he hath created the world, and maintaineth it still at this day by his power, and also because he feedeth and sustaineth men: but most of all for his choosing and adopting of his people and §20Church, by the knowledge whereof, men see well how bountiful God is towards them. Now then, are we sufficient of ourselves to treat of such things? Who is he that can be found fit for that purpose?1 If all the Angels of heaven would magnify God with one melody & one accord, could they countervail that infinite glory? No surely, they should come far short of it. And what shall become of us then, who be frail creatures, and can but stammer, when we §30be to speak of God but so much as in a shadow? But there was yet one other reason why Moses desired that his doctrine might flow like rain that moisteneth the grass, and watereth the meadows. For he considereth that if our Lord give us not a grace which far passeth the measure that we have received, all is to no purpose: