A17698:931
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.
Now we be come to the second table of the Law, where GOD showeth us how we ought to live one with another. For as hath been touched heretofore, there are two principal things in our life, first that we serve God purely, and afterward that we live honestly and uprightly with other men, yielding every man his due. Now like as the honour of §10God excelleth all things that concern man: so was it meet that the rule thereof should be set down in first and chief place, that we might honour him as we ought to do: which thing is dispatched in the first table. Here therefore GOD beginneth to tell us how to direct our life,1 if we intend to serve him as in respect of men. Also I have showed you that God requireth not any honour at our hands for that he hath need of it or is ever the better for it:§20 but he doeth it for our benefit and welfare. Now then his intent is to try our obedience, and the love that we bear him, by commanding us to behave our selves uprightly and honestly towards our neighbours, and to live together in such fellowship and concord, as none of us be given to himself, but all of us communicate together, and every man strain and employ himself to do good, according to such power and ability as they have. That (say I) is §30the proof to know if we worship him with our hearts. For we may well make many fair countenances and Ceremonies: but God will not take them for payment.2 And even that is the cause why our Lord Jesus Christ sayeth, that the chief points of the Law are Justice, Judgement, uprightness, and faith▪ that is to say faithfulness or trustiness, for so doeth the word Faith betoken there. Then if we live uprightly among men, so as we be neither guileful nor malicious, but desirous to serve every mans turn, maintaining the good and resisting the evil as near as we can: it is the chief point of the Law. Not that the service of God ought to be forgotten in the mean while, or that it is of less importance: but because it is unpossible for men to discharge their duty towards their neighbours, if they be not led by the fear of God.
NOwe wee bee come to the second table of the Lawe, where GOD sheweth vs howe wee ought to liue one with another. For as hath bene touched heretofore, there are two principall thinges in our life, first that wee serue God purely, and afterward that wee liue honestly and vprightly with other men, yeelding euerie man his due. Nowe like as the honour of