A17698:4376
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 he addeth consequently, Surely I will lift up my hand to heaven and say, I am the living; §50and that I having sharpened the edge of my sword, & having taken Justice in my hand, will execute such vengeance that blood shall run down in streams every where, so as all mine enemies shall be made to come to their answer, and I will spare nothing from one side to an other. Now here God confirmeth yet better that which he had declared heretofore, and he confirmeth it with an oath: For this speech, to lift up the hand to heaven is as much to say, as to Swear; not that God §60can lift up his hand after the manner of men: for besides that he hath no hand, there is nothing higher than his majesty: but it is a figure taken of the custom among men, and we know it is very common in the holy scripture. Because we comprehend not God as he is in deed, but find him to be a thing far passing our reach: therefore is he fain to apply himself to our rudeness. Even so in this text he saith that he will lift up his hand, that is to say that he will swear. Now, there is no need, that God should swear: For the cause why we have oaths among us, is our own naughtiness. There is so much craft and subtlety among men as is pitiful to behold. They be fleeting, they be full of lightness and unconstancie, and it is hard to bring them to upright dealing. In these respects, and for that we be so given to deceitfulness, oaths are fain to be ministered to us: But Gods swearing is for our infirmities sake. And truly we be greatly to blame in this behalf, in that we compel God to swear. For nothing is more peculiar to him than trueth, and if he had not that, he were not God. Seeing then, that he is the infallible trueth it self, if when he hath once spoken, we stand doubting still, and examine whether it be so or no: can there be a more horrible blasphemy, than to call Gods trueth in question after that fashion? Is it not all one as if we would bereave him of his very being? And yet for all that, we see how men stand as in a mammering when God speaketh to them. For if he threaten us, we make no account of it:
Nowe hee addeth consequentlie, Surelie I will lift vp my hande to heauen and say, I am the liuing; §50and that I hauing sharpened the edge of my sworde, & hauing taken Iustice in my hande, will execute such vengeaunce that bloude shall run downe in streames euerie where, so as all mine enemies shall be made to come to their aunswere, and I will spare nothing from one side to an other. Now here God confirmeth yet better that which hee had declared heretofore, and he confirmeth it with an othe: For this speech, to lift vp the hand to heauen is as much to say, as to Sweare; not that God