A17698:1076
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.
He could well have spoken without the casting forth of flames of fire, without making the hill to smoke, and without having any thick or dark clouds about him: but it was his will to add all these miracles, to the intent that the people should be afraid. And therefore let us mark, that he intended to bring the prophet Isaiah's saying to pass:1 namely, that his spirit should not rest upon us, except we tremble at the presence of his word. For the thing wherein he will try our obedientnesse towards him, is if we do love him so well, that as soon as he speaketh, we receive his word without gainsaying, so as we think it good and agree thereunto, saying amen, not only with our mouths but also with our hearts, and serving him quietly all our life long. For Gods requiring of the service whereby he will be honoured at our hands, is to show the obedience which we owe unto his word. Howbeit, forasmuch as we be so hard and heavy that we rather drag back, and cannot abide ⟨p. 251⟩to bow down our necks to bear his yoke: we have need to be helped by all the means that are mentioned here. And therefore let us mark that these flames of fire appeared not for that time only, to serve no moe but them that saw it▪ but also to the intent that the Law of GOD should bear record still at this day, of how great authority it ought to be, and to the intent the remembrance thereof should be renewed unto us, that by calling to mind what happened at that §10time, we may be humbled under the majesty of our God, and that whensoever we go about to advance our selves, or to be tempted with presumption and pride, the burning fire that made the people aghast at that time, & the thickness and darkness of the cloud, and the sight of the smoking mountain, may come before our eyes and serve to hold us in such awe, as all loftiness my be beaten down in us, and we be so wakened in good earnest, as we may come & §20yield ourselves to our God to deal with us as he list, and to lead us whither he will, so as we may follow him whithersoever we be called by his mouth. Thus ye see whereto we must refer the things that are spoken here concerning the smoking of the mount, the flaming of the fire, and the thickness of the cloud.