A17698:4463
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.
Heretofore Moses had exhorted the people to receive the Law with all obedience: for he had said that they did cast themselves down at Gods feet. And it is a kind of speech that is very rife in the Hebrew tongue, because the man that is a learner sitteth down at his masters feet to receive learning at his hand. Now we have seen how it behooved §30the people to be as it were at Gods feet. To what end? To hear the words of his mouth. And hereby we see that GOD hath the whole sovereignty in his Church, and that although he speak by the mouths of mortal men, yet doth not that abate any whit of his right, that men should therefore usurp his authority, or thrust themselves into his place; but that they ought to deliver the things faithfully §40which they have received of him. To be short, here it is showed us that the Church of God is to be guided alonely by his word, and not by the things which men shall have dreamed and devised of their own heads. And heerewithall we be also exhorted to obey God, and not to strive against him when he speaketh to us, but to stoop and to yield ourselves wholly to that which he sayeth. At a word, here we be brought back from the bondage of men, to the §50end that our faith should not depend upon this man or that man, but be grounded upon God. And by the way it is showed us, that it is our duty to humble ourselves unto God, and to profit under his word and in his school, so as we may suffer our selves to be governed by his doctrine.
HEeretofore Moses had exhorted the people to receiue the Lawe with all obedience: for he hadde sayde that they did cast themselues downe at Gods feete. And it is a kind of speech that is verie rife in the Hebrewe tongue, because the man that is a learner sitteth downe at his maisters feete to receiue learning at his hande. Nowe we haue seene howe it behooued §30the people to bee as it were at Gods feete. To what ende? To heare the woordes of his mouth. And heereby we see that GOD hath the whole souereinetie in his Church, and that although he speake by the mouthes of mortall men, yet doth not that abate any whitte of his right, that men should therefore vsurpe his authoritie, or thrust themselues into his place; but that they ought to deliuer the thinges faithfully §40which they haue receiued of him. To be short, heere it is shewed vs that the Church of God is to be guyded alonely by his worde, and not by the thinges which men shall haue dreamed and deuised of their owne heades. And heerewithall we be also exhorted to obey God, and not to striue against him when he speaketh to vs, but to stoope and to yeelde ourselues wholly to that which he sayeth. At a worde, heere wee bee brought backe from the bondage of men, to the