A17698:532
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.
O (say they) this is the commandment of our mother holy Church, this is a doctrine of hers that must be observed, this is a good devotion, this is a law of hers, this is an ordinance. To be short there is no ho. And is this an obeying of that which Moses saith here? So then let us learn to give attentive ear to this exhortation, seeing it is not for nought that it is so often repeated unto us. And if the Prophets in old time had so hard hold with the people for this vice: let us assure our selves that we also shall ever be unruly & wild-headed, until our Lord have tamed us by long handling, & made us to stick to this ground, That it is no more lawful for us in any wise to add any thing to his law, than it is lawful for us to take any thing from it. Now in deed the Papists allege that this was spoken to the Jews: but that as for us, we be now under the law of liberty. But they speak like beasts. For when the Gospel is named the Law of liberty: it is not meant that God layeth the bridle in our necks, and that we may henceforth follow our own swing: but (as I said afore) it is because it beareth with us, & continueth not the extreme rigour of cursing us, when we have not performed Gods commandments in all points to the full.1 In that respect is the Gospel ⟨p. 115⟩named the law of liberty. Nevertheless forasmuch as God hath more fully revealed the things unto us, which were hid for a time: & forasmuch as we be taught much more largely now adays, than the Jews were: there is much more reason why we should hold our selves more in awe, and walk reverently before God. For in comparison of us, the Jews had a very slender teaching: and yet notwithstanding, they be forbidden to put any thing to it. And shall §10we then presume now adays to add any thing to that which God hath left us, when he hath reached out his trueth far and wide, and that besides his law and Prophets, we have this further perfection, that he hath spoken to us with open mouth by Jesus Christ? What a presumptuousness were that? Besides that we should offer wrong and dishonour to the law: we should also blaspheme the Gospel. And therefore let us understand, that Gods spirit hath not spoken it §20for any one time only: but that he meant to deliver it for a rule to continue to the worlds end when he said, Put not any thing to that which I command you, neither take any thing from it.