A17698:528
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.
Ye see what the Christianity of Geneva is, where the Gospel hath been preached this twenty years, insomuch that y• very walls ought to ring of it, and the very paving of the streets ought to bear some mark of Gods trueth: and yet these wood beasts continue still in their gross and barbarous rebelliousness, so as they be worse than bulls with their horns, or I wot not what other beasts. Yet notwithstanding it cannot be wiped out of Gods Register, but that whensoever Gods word is preached, both great and small must receive it, at leastwise if we acknowledge it to be Gods truth. Yea and we must receive it with such reverence,1 as to think thus with our selves: behold, it is our God that speaketh: and if he be our master, do not we owe him all reverence? If he be our father, do not we owe him all honour? What is to be done then, but only to show by our deeds, that our whole seeking is to be ruled quietly by him? Thus ye see what we have to remember here, in that Moses speaketh not as in the person of a mortal man, but taketh upon him the authority to command: howbeit not as challenging any thing to himself, but as being desirous to be heard, because he was a faithful setter forth of Gods law: showing also that he had vengeance ready prepared for all such as would check against him, or reject the doctrine that he did set forth.
Ye see what the Christianitie of Geneua is, where the Gospell hath bene preached this twentie yeeres, insomuch that y• verie walles ought to ring of it, and the verie pauing of the streetes ought to beare some marke of Gods trueth: and yet these wood beastes continue still in their grosse and barbarous rebelliousnesse, so as they be worse than bulles with their hornes, or I wote not what other beastes. Yet notwithstanding it cannot be wyped out of Gods Register, but that whensoeuer Gods worde is preached, both great and small must receiue it, at leastwise if we acknowledge it to be Gods truth. Yea and we must receiue it with such reuerence,1 as to thinke thus with our selues: beholde, it is our God that speaketh: and if he be our maister, doe not we owe him all reuerence? If he bee our father, doe not we owe him all honour? What is to bee done then, but onely to shewe by our deedes, that our whole seeking is to bee ruled quietly by him? Thus yee see what we haue to remember here, in that Moses speaketh not as in the person of a mortall man, but taketh vpon him the authoritie to commaund: howbeit not as chalendging any thing to himselfe, but as being desirous to be heard, because he was a faithfull setter forth of Gods lawe: shewing also that he had vengeance readie prepared for all such as would checke against him, or reiect the doctrine that he did set forth.