A17698:889
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.
And it is certain that under the ten commandments, God intended to give a rule that should endure for ever. Therefore let us not think that the things which Moses speaketh of the Sabbath day,1 are needless for us: not for that the figure remaineth still in force, but because we have the trueth thereof. And for the same cause the Apostle in the fourth to the Hebrews, applieth the things that were spoken of the Sabbath day,2 to §20the instruction of the Christians and of the new Church. For he showeth us that we must fashion our selves like to our GOD, and that this is our full felicity and perfection, because the whole sovereign welfare of man consisteth in being created after the image of God. What is to be done now, seeing that the said image is defaced by sin, but that it may be repaired again? Ye see then that the way for us to attain to perfection, is to fashion our selves like to our God §30and to yield to his will, and to inquire of his works: that we may do the like. Wherefore let us understand that to serve God well, we at this day be commanded to strain our selves to the uttermost of our power, to subdue our own thoughts, affections and desires, that God may reign in us and rule us by his holy spirit. And therefore it is in vain for all hypocrites to gloss, & to set a fair countenance upon their doings. For so long as wicked covetousness lieth lurking §40in their hearts: so long as they be full of envy, rancour, ambition, cruelty, or guile: it is certain that they do nothing else but break the Sabbath day. And therefore we may conclude that they overthrow the whole service of God, according to that which I alleged afore out of Ezekiel. As much is said thereof in Jeremiah.3 And in deed that is the cause why the ceremony was so straitly looked to under the law. Think we that God did ever take pleasure in mens idleness? no surely.§50 But he punished the party as sore that wrought upon the Sabbath day, as him that had murdered a man. And why so? It seemeth to be a cruelty, that a man should be put to death for cleaving of a little wood upon the Sabbath day,