A17698:4561
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.
Sometimes God showeth us what his glory is, to the intent we should be fully resolved of this point, that he is incomprehensible, and that we ought to worship him with all humility, & that we must not look to forge him after our fancy, or to ⟨p. 1216⟩make him like to ourselves, by transforming after our own imagination. Therefore when the holy scripture setteth forth Gods majesty so high as we be abashed at it,1 yea & even the very Angels of heaven, accordingly as it is said that the Cherubins hide their faces, because they cannot abide to look upon the majesty so great and infinite as it is in God: therein it is showed us that we must needs stoop under such greatness and highness. But yet therewithal §10God considereth how it is for our benefit to have some familiarity with him: & thereupon he yieldeth to our rudeness, and taketh upon him as it were a new shape, howbeit not which is contrary (as I said afore;) but to the intent that we should not be scared, nor take occasion to shrink from him. Now then, he allureth us gently, and therewithal he stopeth to us & maketh himself as it were mean unto us. And to that end have the sacraments §20bin referred at all times. Like as at this day still in Baptism we see the water; and in the Lords supper we see the bread & the wine. And what is the cause that our Lord Jesus Christ,2 who is the lively image of God his father, & in whom dwelleth the whole fullness of the godhead bodily; what is the cause (say I) that he showeth himself to us in corruptible things, and in the elements of the world? It is for our infirmities sake, because we cannot approach to his spiritual §30power. That is the very cause why he figureth his graces under the visible elements: & in them ought we to behold the heavenly power of his holy spirit. That is the second fashion which God useth in revealing himself unto us, the which is answerable to our rudeness. But we see how he showed himself to the fathers of old time under certain shapes. As for example when he talked with Jacob in Bethel, it was because Jacob needed such confirmation.