A17698:4419
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.
And now hereupon let us learn to discharge our selves of all pride, for there are many men to be seen, which could find in their hearts to stand in contention with God; and would never agree to his judgement, until he have showed them wherefore he doth condemn this or that. But we must not lift up bristles after that manner. We know there is but one only Judge, and that we must all come before his seat with reverence,1 as sayeth Saint Paul. Sith it is so. let us keep us from attempting any thing beyond that which belongeth unto us, and let us not take upon us the authority of God, to put difference between good and evil after our own fancy; but let us enquire after the thing which our Lord alloweth, & hold it for good without gainsaying. And look what he condemneth, let us hold it for evil, without asking question why, unless God show us the reason, and then must we accept thereof. For if he once say the word, we must hold us to it and keep silence. To be short, let us learn to glorify God in all cases: and when he hath once spoken a thing, let it suffice us, and let us all agree unto it without any further ado. For it shall not boot us to strive, we shall but double our condemnation continually. What should it have profited Moses to have made long process, and to have entered into particularities with God for the justifying of himself, [& to have said,] Why? What have I said? Did any one word scape me out of square? And on the other side, I meant not to consent to the wickedness of this people. Which thing I have showed as much as might be in all my doings. In so much that even when they asked water, I knew not how to do better, than to consider mine own weakness, and therefore I confessed it with mine own mouth, and therewithal called upon thee. Moses had many allegations to make: but if he had entered into them, it had bin the next way to have provoked Gods vengeance so much the more against him. Seeing then that he did willingly yield to his condemnation, to the intent to obtain mercy for his fault: let us follow his example, and suffer God to use his due authority over us; and let all mouths be stopped before him as sayeth the scripture. Thus much for that one point.
And nowe hereuppon let vs learne to discharge our selues of all pride, for there are many men to bee seene, which coulde finde in their heartes to stand in contention with God; and would neuer agree to his iudgement, vntill hee haue shewed them wherfore he doth condemne this or that. But we must not lift vp bristles after that maner. We knowe there is but one onely Iudge, and that wee must all come before his seate with reuerence,