A17698:940
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 seeing that so it is that God hath in one word and in a brief sum given us here the rule of obedience to all superiors: let us mark that in so doing he resigneth not his own right §20ne forgoeth that which belongeth to himself. Therefore God must hold still the highest degree. And indeed seeing that all fatherhood proceedeth of him, (according to S. Pauls text afore alleged): let us mark that when we obey father or mother, prince or magistrate, master or mistress: it is done unto them as officers of God. God then must be honoured above all, and that in such sort, as the honour which we yield unto mortal men, hinder not the doing of the §30service and honour which we own unto him, but that every of us endeavour to discharge our duties chiefly towards him. It were a goodly sight to see a man obey an underofficer, & therewithal to spit in the face of the judge or of the Prince. What a dealing were that? But even in like case is it with us, when we dispossess God of his preeminence, and obey men in such sort, as in the mean while we make no reckoning of him that is above all. For it is against nature,§40 that the authority which men have, should in any wise deface the glory of God. Therefore let us mark well, that whereas we be commanded to obey our superiors: this exception is implied, that the same be no derogation or impeachment to the right that belongeth to God, which hath been treated of already in the first table. For we know that the service wherewith God is honoured, ought to be preferred before all things.1 And for the same cause S. Paul minding to §50give us an exposition of this text, addeth expressly that children must obey their fathers and mothers, howbeit in the Lord. And I told you also, that the foundation whereon we ought to build, that we may be obedient lowly and subject to our superiors: is to know that God is represented in their persons. Now take me away the foundation, and must not all the whole building fall and go down to the ground? But all they that regard not god, do take away the foundation of this doctrine:§60 & so their proceeding is too faulty and froward.