A17698:4333
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 to benefit our selves by this text, let us have an eye to that which is said in Daniel,1 that the books shall be laid open when the Judge holdeth his Assizes. Therefore if our sins be hidden as now from the world, so as we be not accused of them nor no man rebuketh us for them, insomuch that we do as it were fall asleep in them: let us nor therefore forbear continually to mourn for them before God, and to enter into account, and to quicken up our selves, knowing well that the Registers must be laid open, when the sentence shall be given, and that as then our indictment must needs be framed. We shall not be made privy to it aforehand, but as soon as the Trumpet shall have sounded, and our Lord is set upon the bench, there shall need neither Register nor secretary to read it, but every mans conscience must accuse himself, and every man bear witness against himself, and every man must lay open his own shameful dealings. Sith it is so, let us take heed to ourselves, and not deceive our selves by our vain self soothing. For although God punish us not presently, but bear with us for a time: yet doth it not therefore follow, that he perceiveth not all our naughty and wicked doings. That is the thing then which we have to remember in this text, wherein God saith; that all these things are laid up by him, and fast sealed up in his treasures.
Nowe to benefite our selues by this text, let vs haue an eye to that which is sayd in Daniell,1 that the bookes shall bee layd open when the Iudge holdeth his Assises. Therefore if our sinnes bee hidden as nowe from the worlde, so as wee be not accused of them nor no man rebuketh vs for them, insomuch that we doe as it were fall asleepe in them: let vs nor therefore forbeare continually to mourne for them before God, and to enter into account, and to quicken vp our selues, knowing well that the Registers must bee layd open, when the sentence shall bee giuen, and that as then our inditement must needes bee framed. Wee shall not bee made priuie to it aforehand, but as soone as the Trumpet shall haue sounded, and our Lorde is set vppon the benche, there shall neede neither Register nor secretarie to reade it, but euery mans conscience must accuse himselfe, and euery man beare witnesse against himselfe, and euery man must lay open his owne shamefull dealinges. Sith it is so, let vs take heede to ourselues, and not deceiue our selues by our vaine selfesoothing. For although God punish vs not presently, but beare with vs for a time: yet dooth it not therefore followe, that hee perceiueth not all our naughtie and wicked doinges. That is the thing then which we haue to remember in this text, wherein God saith; that all these thinges are layd vp by him, and fast sealed vp in his treasures.