A17698:891
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 doth it not appear thereby, that we seek to be left up as a pray to Satan, to be carried & harried away by him, for want of being any more under the protection of our God? Yes: but what for that? There are very few that think of it. The world sees what liberty all men take to them selves. If one come & tell a man that he must not walk after his own fancy. Tush (saith he) I know how to behave my self. But a man could not devise to spite God more manifestly, than by such rebelliousness. It is all one as if we would needs show that we will not that he should have any superiority over us. In deed men will not be acknowē that it is so: but yet it is so in very deed. For (as I have said already) it is no serving of God, unless we begin at the abstaining from our own thoughts & affections. Therefore when men will needs be selfwise & trust to their own wit, so as they take leave to do what they list, & to follow their own affections & fancies▪ & labour not to repress them, but are offended when others go about to reclaim them: it is a sign that they never wist what it is to serve God, nor that it is the chiefest point of the law. And therefore let us mark well, that whereas God allegeth his own ⟨p. 203⟩example: it is to allure us gently to the keeping of that spiritual Sabbath or rest, that we might think our selves unhappy to be separated from him, as I touched afore. And behold, the band of this conjunction is that we withdraw not our selves from his religion & trueth, but suffer our selves to be ruled by him.
And doth it not appeare thereby, yt we seeke to be left vp as a pray to Satan, to be caryed & haryed away by him, for want of being any more vnder the protection of our God? Yes: but what for that? There are very fewe yt thinke of yt. The world sees what libertie al men take to thē selues. If one come & tel a man that he must not walke after his owne fancie. Tush (saith hee) I knowe how to behaue my selfe. But a man could not deuise to spite God more manifestly, than by such rebelliousnesse. It is all one as if we woulde needes shewe that wee will not yt he should haue any superioritie ouer vs. In deede men will not be acknowē yt it is so: but yet it is so in very deede. For (as I haue sayd already) it is no seruing of God, vnlesse we begin at the absteyning frō our owne thoughtes & affections. Therefore when men will needes be selfwise & trust to their owne wit, so as they take leaue to doe what they list, & to follow their own affections & fancies & labor not to represse thē, but are offended whē others goe about to reclaime them: it is a signe yt they neuer wist what it is to serue God, nor yt it is the chiefest poynt of the lawe. And therefore let vs marke wel, yt whereas God alledgeth his owne