A17698:936
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 let us return to the thing that I touched briefly before, that we may profit by it, by gathering some profitable lesson of it. First and foremost let children understand, that seeing GOD hath given them fathers and mothers, it is good reason that they should obey them, or else they show themselves to be despisers of God: and the stubbornness which they use to their superiors, concerneth not men nor mortal creatures, but is all one as if Gods majesty and glory were trodden under foot.1 It is said that (to speak properly) we have but one father, which is in heaven: and that is meant, not only in respect of our souls, but also in respect of our bodies. Now then this honour of bearing the name of Father, belongeth peculiarly to GOD alone, and cannot agree to men, furtherforth than it pleaseth him to make them partakers thereof. Seeing then that the title of father is as a mark which God hath set upon men: we see that when children make no account of their fathers and mothers, they do wrong unto God. As much is to be said of ⟨p. 214⟩all •ch as disobey their princes & magistrates: ••d likewise of servants that would have all degrees confounded, and reign without order. And for the same cause also did the Heathen men apply this word Godliness to that honour that we give to fathers and mothers, and to all such as are in authority over us. Godliness (to speak properly) is the reverence that we owe unto God: and yet the heathen, (notwithstanding that they were blind wretches) knew that God §10will be served, not only in his own majesty, but also by our obeying of such folk as have authority over us: To be short his will is to try our obedientnesse in that behalf. And therefore inasmuch as fathers and mothers, magistrates and all such as have superiority, are Gods Lieutenants and represent his person: surely if a man despise them and make light of them, it is all one as if he bewrayed that he would not obey God. He may well protest the contrary:§20 but yet is it so in deed for all that. If the wretched infidels knew this, & that God left them such an affection: what excuse will there be for us, if we know it not yet better? Sith we hear that all fatherhood proceedeth of God, (as Saint Paul avoweth,