A17698:4169
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 their own seeming they be men of great wisdom, at leastwise when they have digged so deep, that (in their own opinion) God cannot spy them out. Yet notwithstanding, we may well call them fools, and not without cause doth the holy Ghost term them so.1 For why? Our very wisdom and the chief point thereof, is to fear GOD, saith the holy scripture. And in deed, even nature ought to teach us that. For what is a man, when he knows not whether he was shaped by haphazard, whether there be a God that created him, or if he be as a blind wretch, not knowing who is his God, that he may worship him and make an oblation and sacrifice of his life unto him? Must it not needs be that a man is worse than all the brute beasts in the world, when he is become so brutish, or rather fallen into such blockishness? Yes verily. Then let us bear in mind the words that Moses useth here, and let us weigh them as they be worthy, that we may apply our endeavour to the serving of our God, knowing that the having of that point is our true wisdom, and that all other things are but appendants, and that by and by we run astray as soon as we have left the pure doctrine: Insomuch that although the whole world commend us, and clap their hands at us▪ and we seem to be excellent ⟨p. 1113⟩in all respects: yet in very deed we be witless, and it were better for us a thousand times to be frantic, yea and stark mad, than to have wit and reason (to all likelihood) after that sort, and to be without any knowledge of our God.
To their owne seeming they bee men of great wisedome, at leastwise when they haue digged so deepe, that (in their owne opinion) God cannot spy them out. Yet notwithstanding, we may wel call them fooles, and not without cause dooth the holy Ghost terme them so.1 For why? Our very wisedome and the chiefe point thereof, is to feare GOD, saith the holy scripture. And in deede, euen nature ought to teach vs that. For what is a man, when hee knowes not whether hee was shaped by haphazard, whether there bee a God that created him, or if he be as a blinde wretch, not knowing who is his God, that hee may worship him and make an oblation and sacrifice of his lyfe vnto him? Must it not needes bee that a man is worse than all the brute beastes in the worlde, when hee is become so brutishe, or rather falne into such blockishnesse? Yes verily. Then let vs beare in minde the wordes that Moses vseth here, and let vs wey them as they be worthie, that wee may apply our indeuour to the seruing of our God, knowing that the hauing of that poynt is our true wisedome, and that all other thinges are but appendantes, and that by and by wee runne astray as soone as wee haue left the pure doctrine: Insomuch that although the whole worlde commend vs, and clap their handes at vs and wee seeme to bee excellent