A17698:478
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.
It was as brutish a kind of dealing as might be. Although this people was sharp witted and subtle above all others: yet were they become so brutish, that they gave over themselves to all the abominations of the world. To be short, when they had either peace, or health, or abundance of wealth: they would say God, God: the word God ran trotting everywhere: But in the mean while every man had a God by himself. Such a one was Baal Peor (of whom we shall speak hereafter) which was the GOD of the Ammonites. Thus did Idolatry reign every where, and every man had his Patrons and gods by himself. In consideration whereof Moses saith, Of a trueth Lord, m•n abuse thy benefits, ⟨p. 102⟩and when thou doest them good, (as in deed all proceedeth from thy hand:) they do utterly forget it, or mar it, or belie it. For they bear themselves on hand that they receive those things of their Gods, that is to say of their idols, which are but leasings and dotages. And so are men utterly overseen. But Lord, howsoever the world fareth, thou hast uttered such a power towards us, as all the Heathen must needs have their mouths stopped, so as they cannot say,§10 These are Gods that have wrought as great miracles as the God of Israel. If thy delivering of thy people be compared with all the benefits which thou hast bestowed upon men: it will appear that thou art the sovereign God, & that thou hast showed forth thy mighty arm in such wise, as all other Gods must needs be cast down. Thus ye see what Moseses meaning was.1 And the Scripture speaketh often after that manner, as though it granted men their error. As if we §20should say, put the case, or admit: not that it is so in deed, but to come by degrees, to the thing that is to be proved. As for example: if we have to do with some Papist: to the intent we may teach him according to his rawness, we will say: Go to, in praying unto God, let the one side have Jesus Christ for their advocate, and let the other side have the Virgin Mary with the rest of their He-saints and She-saints: and let us see which is the better. For when a man comes unto §30God, and setteth Jesus Christ before him: he is assured by the holy scripture, that it is Christs office to be the mean between God and him, and to make intercession for him.