A17698:983
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 also generally to be chaste, to walk §20in pureness of life, and not to give our selves the bridle to any uncleanness or dishonesty. And why? The reasons that I have alleged, ought much to move us thereunto. And therefore look what hath bin said already concerning adultery: let us apply it likewise to this present case: Namely that we hold all our senses in awe with such staidness, as the devil may always be driven back when he tempteth us to any unchastnesse, and not get any entrance §30into us.1 There was a certain heathen man that could well skill to say, that it was not enough for a man to have stay of his hands, (that is to say, that he could refrain from ravine, outrage, and doing of wrong:) but also that he ought to have stay of his eyes, that is to say, that he ought not to caste any unchaste look. If the blind and ignorant wretches were able to teach us thus much: what shall become of us when it is told us (as I said afore,) that God hath done §40us so much honour, as to repair for himself, not only our souls but also our bodies, notwithstanding that they be corruptible, and that (as we see) there is nothing but rottenness in them? Seeing then that God taketh them for his own, and vouchsafeth to dwell in them: ought we not to learn to live warily, that no uncleanness or filthiness be committed that may drive God away from us, when as he would have us to be his dwelling place and holy §50temple? Yea and we must call to mind how S. Paul saith,2 that all other sins are committed outwardly of mans body: but whoredom is committed in the body it self. For it is right certain that we defile our hands by robbery and stealth (as is avowed in the holy scripture:) insomuch that when we do any man wrong, we have bloody hands,3 as saith the prophet Isaiah. But Saint Paul very well perceiving whoredom to be yet more shameful, and that men have §60so much the more need to beware of it: telleth them that there remaineth some scar thereof still printed in the body of the whoremonger, so that his body is put to reproach by it. Surely we would be very chary of the preserving of our honesty, and it would greatly grieve us that it should be stained or blemished by any man: & why then do we make so light account of it, as to stein and imbrue it with infamy, before God, before his Angels, & before men?