A17698:870
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 withal there is a threatening added: whereby we see mens dullness, and how Satan hath as ye would say bewitched them, so as they conceive not Gods wrath, when it is set afore them. I will not hold him guiltless that taketh §50my name in vain. Lo it is GOD that speaketh. I pray you ought not the hair of them to stand up stiff upon their heads, which swear so villainously as I have mentioned afore? If a man swear by his faith unadvisedly: behold, God armeth himself and sayeth: no sir, seeing thou hast not honoured me, thou must yield an account of such treachery. God can not away with a simple lye: and if perjury be added thereto, it is yet worse. If a third fall to blaspheming,§60 it is the uttermost point of all lewdness, and as bad as an open defying of GOD, as though we would run upon him and wound him. Now if in this case a man think not upon the punishment that is prepared for all such as do so falsely misuse the name of GOD: or have dishonoured it, may it not be said that he is beastly drunken, and as it were out of his wits, and that Satan hath made him stark blind? Alas yes: and yet nevertheless, it is as common a thing as may be. If a master should say in his house, I will be obeyed in all things: but yet there is one thing above all the rest which I am desirous to have done, and I can not abide that any man shall transgress it, but that he shall by and by be thrust out of the doors, and be punished for it as he deserveth: If a Master have a thing in such estimation, although his men be not so circumspect in all the rest, yet will they stand in some fear of this.
But withall there is a threatening added: whereby wee see mens dulnesse, and howe Satan hath as yee woulde say bewitched them, so as they conceyue not Gods wrath, when it is set afore them. I will not holde him giltlesse that taketh §50my name in vaine. Loe it is GOD that speaketh. I pray you ought not the haire of them to stande vp stiffe vppon their heades, which sweare so vilanously as I haue mentioned afore? If a man sweare by his faith vnaduisedly: beholde, God armeth himselfe and sayeth: no sir, seeing thou hast not honoured mee, thou must yeelde an account of such treacherie. God can not away with a simple lye: and if periurie be added thereto, it is yet worse. If a third fall to blaspheming,§60 it is the vttermost poynt of all leudnesse, and as bad as an open defying of GOD, as though we woulde runne vpon him and wounde him. Now if in this case a man thinke not vppon the punishment that is prepared for all such as doe so falsely misuse the name of GOD: or haue dishonoured it, may it not bee said that he is beastly drunken, and as it were out of his wittes, and that Satan hath made him starke blinde? Alas yes: and yet neuerthelesse, it is as common a thing as may bee. If a maister shoulde saye in his house, I will bee obeyed in all things: but yet there is one thing aboue all the rest which I am desirous to haue done, and I can not abide that any man shall transgresse it, but that hee shall by and by bee thrust out of the doores, and bee punished for it as he deserueth: If a Maister haue a thing in such estimation, although his men be not so circumspect in all the rest, yet will they stand in some feare of this.