A17698:655
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 his majesty bereaveth them of all excuse, and he must needs as then be magnified. And that is the cause why it is said in another place,1 This is the Lord, this is the Lord. The prophet in the person of all the faithful, defieth the idols with their abuses, because GOD should be known, accordingly as all things were accomplished at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now then the thing that we have to gather upon this t•xt, is that when we once know God by his word, we must be so fully resolved and assured thereof, that although the whole wretched world run roving after their own abuses and superstitions, yet we must keep on our way still▪ & that seeing we have a sure foundation which cannot be shaken, that is to wit gods infallible truth: we must let those blind wretches break their necks, sith we cannot remedy it, and in the mean while we must go forward still as the Lord commandeth us, seeing he hath reached us his hand to draw us to him. And although this was spoken to the Jews by Moses: yet it pertaineth even now unto us. For we see what favour God hath showed us above others. All the world is full of error and devilish imaginations, & wretched men are become brutish in their ignorance. But what? Neither hath the doctrine of life been preached unto them: neither have they ever in good earnest understood what God is. Indeed they can speak of him, but that is but at random & without order. But we have the scripture declared unto us, and by that mean God communicateth himself to us, and allureth us so sweetly unto him, as he could not do any more for us, except he should take us into his lap, and yet we see he applieth himself to our infirmity, he cheweth our morsels to us, he feedeth us with pap, & speaketh to us like a nurse. Now when we see that our God manifesteth himself so familiarly unto us, there is no more excuse for us, we may no more mingle our selves in the order or rank of unbelievers. For our state is clean contrary.2 God is hidden from them: and yet shall they not fail to perish in their ignorance as they be worthy. But as for us, if we be so stubborn against God, that even of a spiteful malice we will not obey the things that he showeth us, but will play the wild beasts with him, so as he cannot reclaim us to himself: