A17698:598
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.
Herewithall let us also weigh this saying that is set down here: namely, that the people ought to have rested altogether upon the voice that was uttered unto them, as the very mark whereby God will be known. To morrow it shall be declared more at length, why God would not have any visible image: but yet notwithstanding we must at this present, weigh well this point, that GOD did utter forth his voice. And why? To the intent that thereby the people should be restrained as with a bridle, and consider with them selves that their eyes must not be wandering and gassing about, to seek any shape of God, but that their ears must be attentive to hear his voice, so that whensoever God speaketh, men must be as it were imprisoned to it, and content themselves to be taught by him. Therefore when we come before the Lord, accordingly as it is said that they which meet together in his Church do appear before him: let us note that we must make account of his voice, [and think thus with our selves.] What come we hither to do? Whereas the Papists gaze upon their Church walls, and fisk about after their foolish ceremonies and after murlimewes of their own making: insomuch that although they think they please God, yea and hold him bound unto them, yet they do but play the brute beasts in that behalf: Let us have Gods word as the certain mark that he sitteth in the middest of us, & is [always] ⟨p. 132⟩at hand with us. After that manner must we think, if we will not err: for the true mark for all the faithful to shoot at, when they assemble together in the name of GOD, is to have his voice as a warrant of the presence of his majesty. And of a trueth, like as the ear was the cause of the withdrawing of the first man from God: so must it draw us to him again at this day. What was it that banished our father Adam out of Gods kingdom? What carried §10him away from the hope of life,1 but his ears which received the voice of Satan, and the falsehood that was put to him? Now then, like as we be separated from God by that damnable voice, when we have yielded unto evil: so now we know that the only mean to be called unto God and to enter into his house, that we may be of the number of his children: is to hear Gods voice and thereby to be united unto him. Thus much concerning that §20word.