A17698:52
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 to the end we may be the better disposed: we must also weigh this saying which Moses addeth, Even according to all that God had commanded him. Now by this preface he showeth, that he brought not any thing of his own, ne meant to subdue the people to his own dotages, nor to any thing that he could have devised of his own reason and wisdom as in respect of men, but that he did simply obey God,§30 as a faithful & trusty messenger, without swerving aside either to the right hand or to the left. Now if Moses who had so excellent a record as we see,1 insomuch that God never raised up any Prophet equal or like unto him: If Moses the prince of all Prophets next unto Jesus Christ, and the chief of all under the old Law, do nevertheless protest that he putteth not forth any thing of his own head: I pray you what shall others do? May they compare themselves §40with him? No: but put the case that they be as highly advanced and placed as he: yet notwithstanding, the furthest that they ought to go, is but to set forth the things that God hath commanded them. And therefore let us learn, that here all mens traditions are shut out of doors. And hereby it appeareth, that the Pope hath marred and corrupted the whole order of the Church, by his taking upon him to be a Lawmaker, to devise laws & to lay them upon mens §50necks at his own pleasure, to forge & contrive new articles of faith, and to enforce men to receive his inventions as the holy scriptures. Was not this a turning of all things upside down? Yes: for God never meant that men should have such liberty and sway in the Church, as to set forth any of their own inventions there, but he himself only will be heard there. Mark that for one point.
But to the end wee may bee the better disposed: we must also weigh this saying which Moses addeth, Euen according to all that God had commaunded him. Nowe by this preface he sheweth, that he brought not any thing of his owne, ne meant to subdue the people to his owne dotages, nor to any thing that he could haue deuised of his owne reason and wisedome as in respect of men, but that he did simply obey God,§30 as a faithfull & trustie messenger, without swaruing aside either to the right hand or to the left. Nowe if Moses who had so excellent a record as wee see,