A17698:4672
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.
Here then we have to note, that when the §10scripture speaketh unto us of the signs which we have in use according to Gods ordinance; the very trueth of them is present with them. And why? For (as I have said) our Lord alloweth of our saith in that behalf, showing unto us that the things which proceed from him are not deceivable. And as we ought to be fully resolved hereof in the Sacraments, so let us mark on the contrary part, that when men invent things of their own heads without the §20ordinance of God, they be but toys and maygames and no better. As for example, in the Popedom they have many signs, which they would have men to accept as high mysteries. What a sort fond things are in the Mass? And yet (if a man will believe them), there is nothing which is not well worthy to be commended. They would have it that there they be as it were ravished up among the Angels, when they play their pretty pageants. And yet all §30is but utter vanity, and a blearing or dazzling of mens eyes. And why? For if a man demand from whence those things come; he shall find that men forged them, and that there is no warrant for them from God; yea and even we ourselves do see that they have defiled baptism. True it is that they could not utterly dispatch it out of the way, but that (even in spite of their teeth, and in spite of Satan who stirreth them thereunto, and reigneth over them yet still at §40this day), our Lord Jesus Christ hath brought to pass that his baptism continueth still in his Church. But yet we see how it is infected with many spots among the Papists, so as the baptism it self is nothing in comparison of the rest. For they esteem not a child to be baptised with the water [as it is of it self]; but the water must be charmed aforehand, and it must have conjurations made over it: and then must other inventions be mingled with it, as Spittle,§50 Salt, and Tapers, & a number of other gauds which would make a man amazed. And what importeth all this? Every whit of it is but dung taken from Satan and held still: and yet the Papists set all their holiness therein. Again, they have invented Sacraments of their own brain, as their Sacrament of conformation as they term it, and their Sacrament of Annealing, and all their other pelting toys.