A17698:622
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.
Then let us hearken to that which he teacheth, and therewithal let us be sober, so as our wits be not ticklish, nor our eyes open to imagine or conceive any shape. That is the thing which God meant to betoken in his Law. And so are we the more confirmed in the doctrine that I spake of. But as for the images which the Papists make of their He-saints and She-saints as they term them: there is other reason to condemn them.§50 For GOD hath forbidden two things. First the making of any picture of him, because it is a disguising and falsifying of his glory, and a turning of his trueth into a lie. That is one point. The other is, that no image may be worshipped. But now, do not the Papists worship images? If they say, it is requisite •o to do, for it is a continual stirring up of the peoples devotion: that is too fond a reason. For first of all, when we come to the Church, it can not be but that we shall be §60caught in some error, if we have never so little occasion offered us. For (as I said) although there be no image at all to draw our eyes: yet are we inclined to earthly imaginations even of our selves, and we nourish superstition in us of our own nature. Now then if we be furthered and thrust forward unto evil, so as we find as it were spurs to prick us forward: I pray you shall we not be as good as mad? Therefore the setting up of images in Churches is a defiling of them aforehand, and can serve to no purpose but to draw folk from the pure and true knowledge of GOD. Again, to what end do the Papists set up images in Churches? Is it to have knowledge of their Histories? No: but there stands a sort of puppets with demure countenances, as it were to summon folk to come to do them homage: insomuch that an image is not so soon set up in a Church, but by and by folk go and kneel down to it, and do a kind of worship to it. And can a man devise to tear the Majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to deface his glory more, than by the things that the Papists do? Behold, they paint and portray Jesus Christ, who (as we know) is not only man,1 but also God manifested in the flesh: and what a representation is that? He is Gods eternal Son, in whom dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead, yea even substantially.
Then let vs hearken to that which he teacheth, and therewithall let vs bee sober, so as our wits bee not ticklish, nor our eyes open to imagine or conceiue any shape. That is ye thing which God meant to betoken in his Law. And so are we the more confirmed in the doctrine that I spake of. But as for the images which the Papistes make of their Heesaints and Sheesaints as they terme them: there is other reason to condemne them.