A17698:607
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.
WE have seen already heretofore the care that God had of his people, in willing them to take heed to themselves, and §10to watch well for their souls. For by those words he showeth how dear & chare our soul health is unto him. Here we see the like again. Take heed to thy self (saith he) and keep thy soul. If God did not bear a singular good will to men, he would not speak so. And therefore we have a sure and infallible warrant that God seeketh our salvation, to the end that we on our side shall think upon it also. But we must mark therewithal, whereof §20he treateth here: that is to wit, of the worshipping of God purely without disguising of his majesty. Then is it a token that the same belongeth chiefly to our salvation, and that we run to ruin and destruction when we swerve aside from the pure religion, and fall to devising of any thing that beseemeth not God. If we do so, the devil reigneth among us, and GOD must needs forsake us. Wherefore let us learn that the holding of religion purely & in such sort as §30God alloweth it, as a thing of no small importance. For this kind of speech were unexpedient if to make images were either lawful or but a small and light fault: and surely God would not speak so vehemently as he doth. And therefore whensoever the case concerneth the worshipping of God, let us mark well that it is one of the principal points of our salvation▪ & that men must not presume in this behalf to take leave to do what they themselves think good, but §40rather this warning that is set down here must induce us to walk in fear and carefulness. For what a shame is it, that our Lord shall tell us we must stand upon our guard: and we in the mean while shall run at rovers, as though we needed not to pass greatly for the matter: And that God should so procure our welfare, and we make none account of it? And so ye see what we have to mark upon those terms.
WE haue seene already heretofore the care that God had of his people, in willing them to take heede to themselues, and §10to watch well for their soules. For by those words he sheweth howe deare & chare our soule health is vnto him. Here we see the like againe. Take heede to thy selfe (saith he) and keepe thy soule. If God did not beare a singular good will to men, he would not speake so. And therefore wee haue a sure and infallible warrant that God seeketh our saluation, to the end that we on our side shall thinke vppon it also. But wee must marke therewithall, whereof