A17698:663
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.
Furthermore let us mark well, what whereas it is said here, that heaven and earth shall bear witness against us: it is to put us to the greater shame, in that the Angels need not to come down from Paradise, nor the Prophets and Apostles to rise from the dead, to give evidence against us before God: but only the lifeless creatures are sufficient witness for God to use to condemn us with all. It is true that GOD could bring other witnesses also, as we see, that sometimes he calleth forth the heathen and infidels to make us the more ashamed.1 For (as sayeth the Prophet Jeremiah) go every where, and yet ye shall not see that the idolaters be so fickle, as those that have been duly instructed in the pure word of God. Look me upon the wretched infidels, which be headstrong in their follies. Although they have no certainty to lean unto (as also they cannot indeed have any) & (which more is) their minds be so entangled in their own dotages as they cannot wind themselves out: yet notwithstanding, say what a man can, they stick still to the things that they have learned. And although they keep one course still: yet do they nothing but go astray, without keeping either right way or path: & yet notwithstanding they be held still to it with this persuasion, that they must not change their God. But yet they never knew him for all that. And shall we then be carried away at the first dash, which know the living God and have been taught his truth, and have had so good warrant thereof, as it is not for us to waver any more? Shall we start away after we have been trained up in the pure doctrine of the Gospel? O what meaneth this? Look me upon the Turks, Paynims, Papists, and Jews. Notwithstanding that all these ⟨p. 149⟩be bewitched at this day in their errors: yet shall they rise up and be found sufficient witnesses to make us a shamed before God, and to disappoint us of all starting holes. And why? For they go on still in their superstitions, whereas we for our parts fall to reeling at every blast of wind, and the devil plucketh us out of the place wherein we were planted. Thus ye see what we have to remember upon this place.
Furthermore let vs marke well, what whereas it is saide here, that heauen and earth shall beare witnesse against vs: it is to put vs to the greater shame, in that the Angels neede not to come downe from Paradise, nor the Prophets and Apostles to rise from the deade, to giue euidence against vs before God: but only the liueles creatures are sufficient witnesse for God to vse to condemne vs with all. It is true that GOD coulde bring other witnesses also, as we see, that sometimes hee calleth foorth the heathen and infidels to make vs the more ashamed.