A17698:577
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.
Now let us come to this saying of his, Call •o mind the day wherein ye were before the Lord. This saying importeth much. For although that GOD did then testify his presence in the §30valley of Horeb, as we shall see hereafter: yet notwithstanding whensoever he speaketh unto us, we appear before his judgement seat, though we have no visible miracles. And it is all one as if a Prince being set to hold a Court of estate, should cause his statutes and ordinances to be proclaimed by the sound of a trumpet, to the intent that all men might have knowledge of them. After the same manner doeth GOD deal in this case. For when he vouchsafeth §40to have his word preached unto us, it is as much as if he summoned us to him, and called us to his throne, there to appear every man for himself, to yield account as before our judge. And (as I told you) this importeth much. For we be greatly destitute of wit and reason, if this move us not to hear Gods word with other reverence than we have done. If we considered well, that when we come to a Sermon, or when we take the Bible in our hands to §50read, God citeth and summoneth us, so as we cannot cast our eye upon his word, nor receive so much as one word that is uttered to us in his name, but that his Majesty is present there with it, and we our selves are present in his sight. If we thought well upon that: I pray you should we not be otherwise prepared and humbled to yield our selves teachable? Should we not be in another manner of forwardness than we are seen to be? Therefore if we come hither §60with such coldness, as it were but for orders sake, or when in reading of the Bible, some of us are carried away with fond curiosity, some think them selves discharged to Godward with the having of two or three sentences, and othersome make but a pastime of it: doeth not this dealing of ours show well, that we never tasted of this saying? Namely, that if GOD speak unto us, we must come before him and feel his Majesty, to be as it were beaten down under it, to the end to submit our selves the better to his word. That is one principal point.
Nowe let vs come to this saying of his, Call •o minde the daye wherein yee were before the Lorde. This saying importeth much. For although that GOD did then testifie his presence in the