A17698:683
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.
But yet besides this, let us stand in fear of this horrible curse of serving strange Gods, and of being bereft of the pure religion, for refusing to make our commodity of the honour and privilege that God giveth us in drawing us to him, and in showing us that he is willing to reign among us. And Moses speaketh here expressly of the vanity of idols, to the end that the people may be the better touched therewith. For the wretched Paynims in worshipping a piece of wood or stone, could not conceive what an abomination it is to worship a dead thing. But they that knew the living God, even the GOD that giveth life to all things, ought better to perceive that it is against nature, yea and a detestable thing, to worship a puppet so, whether it were made of wood, or cast of metal either gold or silver. For they be all of them corruptible creatures: and without GOD there is no life, without his power there is no moving.
But yet besides this, let vs stand in feare of this horrible curse of seruing straunge Gods, and of being bereft of the pure religion, for refusing to make our commoditie of the honor and priuiledge that God giueth vs in drawing vs to him, and in shewing vs that hee is willing to reigne among vs. And Moses speaketh here expresly of the vanitie of idols, to the ende that the people may bee the better touched therewith. For the wretched Paynims in worshipping a peece of woodde or stone, could not conceiue what an abhomination it is to worship a dead thing. But they that knew the liuing God, euen the GOD that giueth lyfe to all thinges, ought better to perceiue that it is against nature, yea and a detestable thing, to worship a puppet so, whether it were made of woodde, or cast of mettall either golde or siluer. For they bee all of them corruptible creatures: and without GOD there is no lyfe, without his power there is no mouing.
So then Moses hath set down these circumstances,1 to the end that the people might know ⟨p. 154⟩