A17698:890
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 for the same cause is it said in Jeremiah,1 that they bare §60burdens, and went to cart upon the Sabbath day. And why? It should seem that God standeth too much upon a trifling and childish matter: but he had an eye to the thing that was betokened by the Sabbath day▪ and when that was so despised by the Jews, it was a traitorousness, whereby they showed that they made no reckoning of the law at all. So then, to come again to our selves, seeing that we have not this figure so straitly nowadays, but God hath given us a greater liberty,2 which was purchased for us by the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ: let us learn to give our selves earnestly unto him, and to understand (as I said afore) that we may all travel in all the residue, and yet it shall be to no purpose unless our affections be bridled, so as we strive to renounce all our own thoughts and desires, in such sort as God may have the whole governing of us, and we protest that we desire nothing else than to rest in him. And for the same cause also doth God set forth himself to us for an example. For he thinks it not enough to command men to rest: but also showeth them the way.3 For after he had created the world and all that is therein, he himself rested. Not that he was weary or had any need of rest: but to allure us to behold his works▪ that we might rest in them, and therewithal fashion our selves like unto him. Will we then keep the spiritual rest? like as it is said that God rested from his works: so must we rest also, ceasing to do what seemeth good to our selves, and whatsoever our own nature coveteth. If this example of God provoke us not: we show well thereby that we neither seek nor in any wise covet our own welfare, but that we will needs continue wilfully in our wretched and cursed state. The sovereign welfare of men (as I said afore) is to stick unto God & to be knit unto him. Behold, our Lord calleth us to him, & telleth us that we can have no true holiness nor union with him, but by resting from our own works. Now if we be so unruly, that we will always be occupying of our arms & legs, & be still doing what we think good: surely it is as a breaking of the band that is between God and us, & a separating and estranging of our selves from him as much as in us lieth.