A17698:9
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
To the reader: To the Christian Reader, Grace and Peace from GOD, &c.
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.
To the Christian Reader, Grace and Peace from GOD, &c.
IT is no small favour that we daily receive from the hands of our God▪ partly by the public ministry of his word, and partly by the private reading of such good works as by the means of many his faithful servants he hath published and spread abroad in this last age of the world. But as the beholding of this doth make many Godly minds to rejoice in that they see Gods great goodness striving continually to overcome the malice and frowardness of mans mind: So on the other side it pincheth them at the heart when they perceive not only what slender entertainment Gods graces have amongst us, but even what manifest contempt is offered unto them, while men notwithstanding the wonderful sunshine of Gods holy trueth, remain in as great darkness almost, in respect of judgement, and be as dissolute and careless in their conversation as ever they were, in the time of the most gross and palpable blindness. Would to God that the miserable experience of our days were not too plain a proof of this point: And yet this is not spoken either as in dislike of our state with some discontented people, or to the discrediting and defacing of Gods religion which we profess, with the practising Papists (who with one blow at the Gospel, would if they could, craftily cut the throat both of Religion and policy,) but in all holy love and affection, to make this careless generation more studious to labour to abound both in sound knowledge of the trueth, and in all holy obedience to the same. In which respect, not only are these few lines written at this present, but this notable work of Master Calvins Sermons upon Deuteronomy published, & that in our own native Language: wherein what pain and cost hath been bestowed, that they might come forth as beneficial to the Christian Reader as might be, though I my self may speak much in trueth as an argument of some weight, to induce the godly brethren to the buying and reading thereof; yet letting that point pass as a matter not much to be stood upon, I mind only to press those things, and that also in very few words, which shall be most material. And that is; that as all states and conditions of men may out of the same fetch many profitable points for their instruction both in faith and obedience towards God and man: