A17698:526
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.
And immediately hereunto Moses addeth, That men must purely and simply follow the doctrine that he commandeth, without putting any thing to it or taking any thing from it. To the intent (saith he) that ye may keep the commandments of your God which I enjoin you. Before we proceed any further, we must mark the authority that Moses taketh to himself in this text. He had said heretofore, I teach you: and now he saith, I enjoin or command you. And why is that? To show that he speaketh not in his own name, but as sent from a greater master, in respect whereof it is meet that every man should wholly submit himself to him without gainsaying. And here we see how all true shepherds ought to behave themselves, and all such as have charge to preach Gods word, or have the government of the Church: that is to wit, they must be sure that God hath sent them, so as they attempt not any thing of their own head, but speak as in the name of God, and utter all their sayings as on his behalf. Being once at that stay, then must they also maintain Gods majesty, and deal in such wise as the doctrine may be received with all reverence, and no man step up to encounter it. To be short, there are two things requisite in all good shepherds. The one is, that for their part they must not burden men with any tyranny, nor invent laws to tie their consciences, thereby to bring them in bondage, nor forge any doctrine upon their own head, but faithfully deal forth the things that are committed unto them. Have they that? Then let them advance the thing which they know to proceed of GOD, so as they suffer not the heavenly doctrine to be scorned, but show men that they ought to reverence GOD, and to submit ⟨p. 113⟩themselves to his word, and let them withstand all loftiness that vaunteth it self against him. After which manner we see how God strengtheneth his Prophets,1 telling them that they must not pass for any mans greatness, nobleness, or aught else, but rebuke the Mountains and set themselves against the Hills: that is to say, let them not shrink for men, but let them show that the word which they bring, and which is committed to them, is as it were Gods royal mace,§10 at the which all creatures ought to stoop and to bow their knees. Ye see then that all ministers of Gods word ought to seek those two things.