A17698:4168
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.
But before we come to that point, let us mark how Moses in this place doth justly call them foolish and witless people. True it is that all men may well be condemned of folly likewise, when they serve not God. For if we have any understanding, ought we not of right to employ §60it to the knowing of him who hath created and formed us? Can men boast themselves to be wise, if they know not who hath set them in the world, or who maintaineth and preserveth them? If on the other side they have any reason, is it not a raging madness, when they know not the principal point of their whole life? Now forasmuch as God came near to the people of Israel, it must needs be that they were bewitched, seeing they were not touched with so many and so evident records of Gods goodness: I say it was more than beastly blockishness. For as for the heathen and infidels, in deed they be unexcusable in that they knew not God, who showeth himself to them in the whole creation of the world. But as for the Jews, who had the Law, and had seen so many miracles, and finally had bin conversant with the Lord, who came down to them, (I speak after the manner of the holy scripture, for we know that God shifteth not from place to place, but is infinite and filleth all places,) and applied himself to their rudeness, insomuch as he verified the thing which he so often protesteth, namely,1 I will dwell among you and abide with you: [they were much more• unexcusable.] And therefore, when notwithstanding all this, they turned away from him and forgot him, yea and spited him as though they had conspired together to provoke his vengeance by doing against him all the outrages that they could: must it not needs be an horrible ignorance, yea and a very brutishness, utterly void of all wit and reason? Wherefore let us mark, that our true wisdom is to honour God.2 And in that respect is it said, The foolish man dwelleth in his own heart, and hath no life in him. True it is that the heathen folk thought themselves fine witted and of ability, when they despised God and thought to beguile him by their subtleties, as we see these courtiers & all the brave lads of the world do nowadays, and as we see these fine headed fellows do, which scoff at all religion.