A17698:624
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 by the way let us mark, that the true mean to seek God after such sort as he uttereth himself, is, that after we once know him, we do also consider that he stoopeth to our rudeness, and yet cease not to seek him by moū ting up higher, and by conceiving the things spiritually which the Sacraments do show us. It is true that by them God cometh down to us: howbeit, that is not to hold us down here beneath still: but to make us fly up aloft unto him. It is all one as if he should reach us his hand and say, Come to me, and worship me spiritually. Wherefore let us learn to seek GOD evermore above us, and not to tie him to our fleshly and earthly understanding.
And by the waye let vs marke, that the true meane to seeke God after such sorte as he vttereth himselfe, is, that after we once knowe him, wee doe also consider that hee stoopeth to our rudenes, and yet ceasse not to seeke him by moū ting vp higher, and by conceiuing the thinges spiritually which the Sacramentes doe shewe vs. It is true that by them God commeth downe to vs: howbeit, that is not to hold vs downe here beneath still: but to make vs flie vp aloft vnto him. It is all one as if hee shoulde reache vs his hand and say, Come to me, and worship me spiritually. Wherefore let vs learne to seeke GOD euermore aboue vs, and not to tie him to our fleshly and earthly vnderstanding.
Now finally Moses showeth the unthankfulness of the world in seeking new Gods, and in ⟨p. 139⟩conveying over of the Majesty of the living God to dead creatures. It was a very common thing in the East Countries, to worship the Sun and the Moon and the Stars, because that to their seeming they were not as the earthly creatures are nor had any corruption to be seen in them, nor were subject to such changes as men, beasts, trees and waters are, for we see how all things under the sky are changeable: but seemed to be things immortal and incorruptible.§10 Yea verily, so seemeth it to men that are become brutish, and have not the wit to go to the creation, to know that God hath given the Sun, Moon & Stars such nature and propriety as he listed: but yet for all that, howsoever those creatures fare, they be lifeless. But here Moses rebuketh the wicked fantasticalness of men in worshipping the Sun. They saw there a kind of Majesty. Oh (said they,) these lights of the sky are excellent things: surely there is some