A17698:447
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.
Hereby we be warned, that whensoever §30we make any bargain or covenant: we must not only have aim to the party with whom we have to do: but we must also as it were set GOD among us, and keep our faith and promise to him that we have bound our selves, as though GOD watched us at every steppe, and that we could not so soon work deceit towards any man, but that by and by GOD would steppe before us to withstand it. That is the thing which we §40have to do: but there are very few of us that think upon it. For although the name of God be called upon, and solemn oaths taken, and promises made authentically enough, yea and that there be order of Law to make us feel his majesty: yet do most men shut their eyes, and in all the promises and oaths that are made, [commonly] there is nothing sought but to deceive one another. He that is subtlest and fullest of shifts, is the handsomest §50man: and such kind of dealing is esteemed as a virtue. And why? For every man runs gadding after his own lusts and likings, yea & that in such wise, that they be as blindfoldings to keep us from seeing God. Though we think not upon it now: yet will not God forget any of our deceits, spites, treacheries, and falsehoods which we commit against men. For he hath told us, that when an oath is taken between man and man:1 his glory is defaced §60and himself openly mocked, if the promise be broken. Therefore let us be well assured that he will not put up such wrong, & that although we be never so blind, yet will not he play the blinkard on his side, but will note and mark every whit of it to bring it to account. And so ye see what we have to mark here for one point.
Hereby wee bee warned, that whensoeuer §30wee make any bargaine or couenant: wee muste not onely haue ame to the partie with whome wee haue to doe: but wee must also as it were set GOD among vs, and keepe our faith and promise to him that wee haue bounde our selues, as though GOD watched vs at euerie steppe, and that wee coulde not so soone worke deceite towardes any man, but that by and by GOD woulde steppe before vs to withstande it. That is the thing which wee