A17698:617
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.
But yet for all this, the Papists will affirm that images are laymen's books: and that because all men cannot read nor are clerks, there must be some help for the ignorant. Very well: if a representation of God be made, that is a book, that is as good as the Bible, say the Papists: and it is their chief anchorhold that they flee to in this case. True it is that this shift is not of their own devising: it was devised by a man not wicked of himself, notwithstanding y• he was somewhat attainted with the corruption of papistry. For he was a Pope himself, howbeit not when the Popedom was in such plight as it is nowadays: but yet when it had already bin greatly corrupted, and the world was sore degenerated. Now then, this good man Gregory thought it good to have images, and that they would be as books for the unlearned: & this have the papists received as if it were the oracle of some Angel from heaven. But contrariwise the Prophet ⟨p. 137⟩Jeremiah avoweth that all the doctrine of idols is mere falsehood, and likewise Habakkuk in the second Chapter sayeth that they teach nothing but lies. Were it lawful for a man to coin false money on his own head, because he can get none of the right stamp? No: but yet hath God given his word to all men, so as he hath vouchsafed not only to speak to great Clerks, but also to stoop to the rudeness of the little ones. And for all this, men stop their ears, and say §10they can not know God but by a Puppet: and under that pretence they will needs have it lawful for them to belly the things that God hath reported of his own being. Forasmuch then as we have warrant that there is nothing but falsehood in images: let us send home such Books to the devil: for it is certain that he is the author of them, and that they came all out of his shop. And herein we see how that cursed Council which allowed images, was first carried §20away. For these were the worshipful reasons that they alleged for the having of images. It is not enough (said they) that men be taught by the ear: but their eyes also must have some instruction too. And thereunto they wrested this saying of the Psalm,1 We have heard and seen: that as we have heard Gods word, so must we also have some thing to look at: and (as I said) they refer this looking, unto images.