A17698:896
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 yet herewithall we have to mark, that this is not all: for it were a very slender order to have a rest of our hands and feet, and to go no further than so. What then? we must apply this §20rest to a higher purpose: we must refrain from our own business which might hinder us from the minding of Gods works: and we must call upon his name and exercise our selves in his word. If we spend the Lords day in making good cheer, and in playing and gaming is that a good honouring of God? Nay, is it not a mockery, yea and a very unhallowing of his name? Yes. But when the Shop windows are shut in on the Lords day, and men travel not as they do on §30other days: it is to the end we should have the more leisure and liberty, to intend to the things that God commandeth: that is to wit, to be taught by his word, to meet together to make confession of our faith, to call upon his name, & to exercise our selves in the use of his Sacraments. That is the purpose whereunto this order ought to serve us. But now let us see if those which name themselves Christians, discharge themselves as they ought to do. Behold, a great §40number think to have the Lords day most free to follow their own business, & reserve that day for the same purpose, as though there were none other day for them to appoint upon of all the week long. And though the bell toll to bring them to the sermon, yet it seemeth unto them, that they have nothing else to do, but to think upon their business, and to cast up their accounts concerning this and that matter. Othersome fall to gluttony, and shut up themselves in their houses,§50 because they dare not show a manifest contempt in the open streets: but yet the Lord his day is to them but as a covert to shrink aside in from the Church of God. And hereby it appeareth what affection we have towards all Christianity, & towards the serving of God, seeing we make that thing an occasion of withdrawing our selves further of from God, which is given us for a help to bring us nearer unto him. And again, be we once gone astray: it serveth to pull us quite §60and clean away. And is not it a devilish spite of men? yet notwithstanding it is so common a thing, as is pity to see: and would God that examples were more rare and further of to be found.