A17698:630
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.
Yesterday I began to show mens unthankfulness, in that they cannot find in their hearts to profit themselves by the benefits that God putteth into their hands, as this present example showeth sufficiently. Behold, God hath ordained the stars of the sky to do us service. There ought we to espy his infinite goodness towards us, how greatly he loveth and esteemeth §10us, in that he hath made so noble creatures our servants. But in stead of magnifying our God, and of worshipping him as we ought to do, we clean contrariwise fall to devising of some error and idolatry in our heads. After which manner the Gentiles took occasion to worship the Sun and the Moon, because they saw the great benefits that were received by them. Yea, but therewithal they should have mounted up higher, and have considered that God §20is the author of them, and that the Sun and Moon and the Stars are but instruments of Gods fatherly love towards us, and have not any power which proceedeth not from him. Furthermore let us mark that men sin not in this behalf through simple ignorance, but through wilfulness, because they can not find in their hearts to yield themselves to God with a single mind. For if we intend to serve the living God, we must not go to it by windlasses, but we §30must go right forward. But when men see them selves so pinched: they seek starting-holes, and devise new fashions of serving God on their own head, so as they never come near him. And that is the cause why the world hath ever gone astray, and loved better to follow laws of their own inventing, than to cleave to Gods pure doctrine, and to rest upon the same, as we see is done still at this day in Popery. What is the cause that the superstitions which reign there, do §40seduce men so much, and make them to be so far overseen? Even for that it is easier for men to overrun a few gay Ceremonies, than to serve GOD rightly and with a single meaning heart. Behold, God will not be outfaced with a sort of pelting trifles, but commandeth us to walk soundly before him, so as we forsake our own imaginations and desires, and seek to be governed by him & to have his holy spirit reign in us.
YEsterday I began to shewe mens vnthankefulnesse, in that they cannot finde in their heartes to profit themselues by the benefits that God putteth into their handes, as this present example sheweth sufficiently. Beholde, God hath ordained the starres of the skie to doe vs seruice. There ought wee to espie his infinite goodnesse towardes vs, howe greatly he loueth and esteemeth