A17698:4511
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.
But we know it is unpossible to please God, so long as we be too much affectioned towards men. And therefore we have here a rule, that if we intend to walk aright, and not to halt before God; we must not be entangled in our fleshly affections, no not even in those which are most commendable, or at leastwise which may have most excuse. Men cannot condemn him which honoureth his father and mother, for it is a virtue, and we know that God hath commanded it with a promise,1 The man that loveth his wife, shall not be the less esteemed for it: but what shall be said of the man which hath not a care of his children? He were worse than a brute beast.2 And Saint Paul saith that such folk shall be condemned by the unbelievers, because the unbelievers do show them their lesson. Then is it a commendable virtue for a man to love his father and his mother and his neighbours: but yet must all these be forgotten when God cometh in place, and when his honour is put into the balance to be compared with the duty which we owe to all creatures. For then, (as I said afore) God must go foremost, and all the residue must follow. Insomuch that if we should be turned quite away from them for the doing of such things as God commandeth to be done for his honour, the order of nature ought to bear no sway in that behalf, but rather to be utterly overthrown.
But wee know it is vnpossible to please God, so long as wee bee too much affectioned towardes men. And therefore we haue heere a rule, that if wee intende to walke aright, and not to halt before God; we must not be intangled in our fleshly affections, no not euen in those which are most commendable, or at leastwise which may haue most excuse. Men cannot condemne him which honoureth his father and mother, for it is a vertue, and wee knowe that God hath commaunded it with a promise,1 The man that loueth his wife, shall not bee the lesse esteemed for it: but what shalbe saide of the man which hath not a care of his children? He were worse thā a brute beast.2 And Sainct Paul saith that such folk shalbe condemned by the vnbeleeuers, because the vnbeleeuers do shewe them their lesson. Then is it a commendable vertue for a man to loue his father and his mother and his neighbours: but yet must all these bee forgotten when God commeth in place, and when his honour is put into the balance to be compared with the duety which wee owe to all creatures. For then, (as I saide afore) God must go formost, and al the residue must follow. Insomuch that if we shoulde be turned quite away from them for the doing of such things as God commandeth to be done for his honour, the order of nature ought to beare no sway in that behalfe, but rather to bee vtterly ouerthrowen.