A17698:721
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.
Now he presently addeth thereunto, That this was done before their eyes, so as they were certified that GOD was their maker, and that he only was §30the true GOD, and that there was none other God before him. Here again Moses intendeth to prove the people the more unthankful, if they profited not themselves by the things that they knew by experience. Thine eyes (sayeth he) are witnesses of it. As if he should say, If God of his gracious goodness did but send thee messengers to tell thee of the things that he had done: yet oughtest thou to receive the things that were told thee. But now it is not any other body §40that maketh report of them unto thee: but even thy God himself hath showed them unto thee, and therefore there is no further excuse for thee, for it hath bin showed even to the sight of thine eye: and what more? that the Lord is the true God, (sayeth he) and that there is none other but only he. Here we have the same thing to mark which hath bin touched already: namely that Moses speaketh not simply of miracles or wonders, as it were to make a rehearsal of them: but also §50showeth the end whereto they tend, which is that God should be magnified. And it is a very profitable lesson, [to understand] that when we have such things, we must learn in any wise to glorify our God by them. And had this point been well observed, the wretched world had not been turned aside to so many superstitions as it hath bin, under colour of false miracles. Whereof cometh it that creatures are worshipped in Popery, but under the colour of false miracles?§60 O (say they) such a Saint hath done a miracle. And under y• colour Gods glory must be diminished, insomuch that look how many miracles there are, so many stops are there to withhold the wretched world from coming unto God, and they be even fond gazing-stocks also to make men stand poring upon the creatures. Therefore doth it stand us on hand to mark the things so much the better, which are told us here by Moses: that is to wit that by miracles God will have himself only to be known without matching of any companion with him. He will have his glory to shine forth in such wise, as men shall stoop to him alone, and yield him all the preeminence. To be short, (as Moses saith here) he will have men to know that there is none other but he, neither above nor beneath.