A17698:949
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 we must stand to it and hold our mouths shut. Yet notwithstanding, our Lord useth still his goodness in this commandment: and he doeth it to win us and to draw us the better to him, that we might the willinglyer obey our superiors, seeing he addeth a promise. For (as sayeth S. Paul) it is the first commandment of the law, that hath any special promise.1 In deed we have seen heretofore, how God showeth mercy in a thousand §50generations, to such as love him. And that was added to the commandment wherein God showed us, that he would have his service maintained in all pureness, without swerving aside to idolatry or superstition. But that promise extended to the whole Law, as we saw there: whereas this is annexed only to the commandment of obeying our fathers and mothers. For as much then as we see it is an acceptable sacrifice to God: let such as are in subjection hold §60themselves to it, and not play the rebels and mad bedlams, but bow down their necks and submit themselves, so as it may appear in deed that they be willing to obey GOD, because they refuse not to obey the mortal men whom he hath sent, and appointed in his name. Thus ye see to what purpose this promise was given: namely, that God perceiving us to be dull upon the spur, meant to soften our hearts, and to win us to him by mildness and gentleness, to the intent it should not grieve us nor be irksome to us to obey our superiors. But forasmuch as all cannot be dispatched at this present: Let us bear in mind at a word, that to serve God well, we must lay down all pride and presumptuousness. Although we have naturally in us the cursed root of desirousness to climb, so as ambition reigneth both in great and small: yet must the same be laid down, if we mean to prepare our selves to Gods service. And why? For lowliness is the thing whereat the true obedience must begin. And as concerning men, let us mark well that we shall never be able to live in peace and concord, except that those whom God hath set in place of authority and preeminence, be obeyed and received for his sake, so as men submit themselves to them. For else all must needs go to wreck, and we shall be worse than the wild beasts that are abroad in the woods. Therefore all they that are disobedient to lawful superiority, are as enemies to God and nature, and to all mankind:
but we must stand to it and holde our mouthes shut. Yet notwithstanding, our Lorde vseth still his goodnesse in this commaundement: and he doeth it to winne vs and to drawe vs the better to him, that wee might the willinglyer obey our superiors, seeing he addeth a promise. For (as saieth S. Paul) it is the first commaundement of the lawe, that hath any speciall promise.