A17698:708
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.
Although that all the things that ever God did, ought to serve for our learning, & we §50know not any thing but by ancient stories: yet the later that things were done, so much the better ought they to touch us. And although we ought to profit our selves by Gods works when we behold them a far of: yet ought they to move us much more, when they touch ourselves and concern our own persons. If a thing be told us, which we never saw: yet ought the story to serve to §60waken us. But if we be able to bear witness of it ourselves, so as our eyes have seen it, and we have not had it by other mens report, but every of us is able to avow it by his own experience: ought we not be much better and much more assuredly taught by it? In like case is it when any of us shall have seen or perceived any work of God: for he ought to be touched so much the more to the quick. In the selfsame respect doth Moses now speak unto the people, Look about thee, inquire of the ancient times, see whether thou canst find that ever there have bin any such wonders wrought since the creation of the world, as God hath done in thy sight. Seeing it is so, thine unthankfulness shall be the more unexcusable, if thou acknowledge not so great a benefit, by persuading thy self fully, that there is none other God than the same that hath uttered himself to thee, & hath given thee so evident and infallible tokens of his majesty. Therefore have a regard to serve the God that hath purchased thee: for thou canst not henceforth allege any cause of ignorance. Now by the way we have to mark, that the intent of Moses is, to put a difference here between the God of Israel, & all ⟨p. 160⟩those that were worshipped [for Gods] in the world: and not without cause. For when men have forged any God to themselves, they may well toil themselves to serve him, but it shall turn to their condemnation. Why so? Because they rob God of the honour that belongs to him, to give it to a creature or rather to a shadow. For if we make idols, they be not worthy to be reckoned among Gods creatures. If we imagine of God after our own liking: it is but §10vanity and leasing. So then, when men worship the thing that they have conceived in their own fancy:1 they convey the glory of the living God, not only to creatures, but also to that which is nothing at all.