A17698:4243
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.
The word that Moses useth here betokeneth properly to stand in awe, to fear, or to tremble before God. Whereby he showeth that Gods majesty ought to be so dreaded of us, that we should §60stoop unto it, & be cast down & humbled at it. Not that God would have us to be afraid of it, for we can never serve him with our good will, & with a pure & free heart, if we conceive such a fear of him as shall make us to flee from him. But there are two things in the service of God, as is showed us in the Psalm which shall be song anon,1 namely that in coming unto God, we must be touched with a certain fear, to yield him his due reverence. That is one point. And therewithal we must also consider his goodness, that we may take courage to come unto him, & be bold to call upon him, not doubting but that he heareth us, & that we shall be well accepted at his hand. Mark well therefore what this word Fear, importeth, that we may learn to hold our selves under the obedience of our God with such awe as none of us may take leave to run astray, as we see men do, whose boldness is such that they fling abroad every where, because they make but a sport & a dalliance of God. Therefore let us beware that we be not so rude as to dally with so great a Lord; but rather let us be seasoned with such a fear aforehand, as may always hold us in awe: and yet notwithstanding not cause us to cease from worshipping of our God, in such sort as he may be amiable to us, and we may press boldly to him knowing well that he will receive us with pity, as a father doth his children,2 seeing he calleth us to him before we come.
The word that Moses vseth here betokeneth properly to stand in awe, to feare, or to tremble before God. Wherby he sheweth that Gods maiestie ought to bee so dreaded of vs, yt we should §60stoope vnto it, & be cast down & humbled at it. Not that God would haue vs to be afrayd of it, for we can neuer serue him with our good will, & with a pure & free heart, if wee conceiue such a feare of him as shal make vs to flee from him. But there are two things in the seruice of God, as is shewed vs in the Psalme which shalbe song anon,1