A17698:585
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 now Moses addeth, that if we mind to §40fare the better by the meetings that are made in the name of God: We must hearken to the things that he telleth us, and that must be to the end that we may fear him, that is to say, to the end we yield him all reverence, and it may appear that we take him for our Father and God. For if we think to content God with ceremonies, we deceive our selves, as they do which could find in their hearts to have no Religion at all, and therefore resort hither, some but once a month,§50 and othersome as seldom as may be. There are also which come hither upon the Sundays and Wednesdays as it were for fashions sake: but in the mean while doeth it appear that they be any whit edified in the fear of God? Doeth it appear that their coming hither to crowd themselves into the flock, doth any whit amend them or make them the better? Nay rather they become the more venomous against God, & therefore their coming to infect Gods house, is to their greater condemnation: for they be unworthy to come here, they be no better than swine. Therefore our coming to the Church must be to another end: that is to wit, that we may profit in the fear of God. Now (as I have touched already) this fear importeth that he should overrule us, and that we should be subject unto him. And for the same cause also doeth Moses match these two sayings together, namely that we must do the things that God commandeth us, and also, that we must fear him. Many men think they fear God well, when they have some fond devotion towards him, as we see in Popery, where every man says that his intent is to serve God: but after what fashion? Even every man after his own fancy. But the obedience which God requireth at our hands in yielding our selves wholly to his word, and the reverence which we owe him as to our Father and King: are things unseparable. Wherefore let us mark well that if we be minded and desirous to come together as we ought to do: Gods word must have all authority over us, so as our receiving thereof be not only to confess it with our mouth, but also to frame our lives wholly thereafter. For if we will needs live after our own swing, and every of us do what seemeth good to himself: God holdeth scorn of us and disclaimeth us, though we protest to fear him and serve him [never so much.]
And nowe Moses addeth, that if we minde to §40fare the better by the meetings that are made in the name of God: Wee must hearken to the things that he telleth vs, and that must bee to the ende that wee may feare him, that is to say, to the ende wee yeeld him al reuerence, and it may appeare that wee take him for our Father and God. For if we thinke to content God with ceremonies, we deceiue our selues, as they doe which could finde in their heartes to haue no Religion at all, and therefore resort hither, some but once a moneth,