A17698:4170
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 now let us come to the contents of the accusation and process that Moses maketh here. Is not he thy father (saith he) which possesseth thee? Hath not he made thee? Is it not he that hath shaped §10thee? Whereas he calleth God the father of the children of Abraham; I have told you already that his calling of them so, is but in respect of adoption, because they had bin chosen to be Gods flock & his Church. True it is that forasmuch as we bear the image of God, we be his children even by nature. But forasmuch as we be confounded in Adam, and Gods image was defaced in us: we deserve not that title, we be utterly bereft thereof. Therefore we must be fain §20to begin again at this point, namely at his calling of us back again unto him, so that although we were cut off from his household, yet he reacheth us his hand, and of his own mercy taketh us to be of his household again. This did he to the linage of Abraham. For of his own free goodness he made him this promise,1 I will be thy God and the God of thy seed after thee. Thus ye see by what title the Jews might claim God for their father. It was not for that they were better §30worthy of it than other men, it was not for that they had attained such nobility by their deserts, or for that they had purchased it by their own policy, or for that they had gotten it by any other way or mean [of their own:] but for that God had called them to it, as we have seen heretofore. And so much the less excuse had they, when they turned away from him, and lifted up their horns against him. For it is an inestimable benefit for us to have God to our father. Because §40that therein we be made fellows with the Angels, who are likewise called the children of God, in respect that they be members of our Lord Jesus Christ. Seeing that God hath called us to the fellowship of the Angels, to be their brethren & companions; what a lewdness were it to make ourselves underlings to the devils, & to submit ourselves unto their bonds and tyranny? What a dealing were it that I being made a companion to the Angels of heaven, should take the devil §50for my Lord & king? What a choice were that? Were I not worse than mad? So then, let us mark well, that when as Moses doth here call God the father of the Israelites, it is to enhance their unthankfulness the more, and to show their lewdness the playnlyer.