A17698:116
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.
WE have seen already what warning Moses gave for the choosing of men meet to govern the people. For (as hath bin declared) if they had taken judges at all adventure, it had bin a defiling of Gods seat. Therefore in that case, it behooved them to use good discretion. But here Moses addeth a point which we ought to mark well. For although he had procured, that §10such as were chosen were men that feared God, and were endued with singular gifts: yet ceaseth he not to put them in mind of their duty, and to warn them of the things that they had to do. Wherein we see, that even the wisest have need to be taught, and the uprightest and justest have need to be warned. And therefore if God have set us in the good way, and bestowed gifts of his holy spirit upon us: let us not think that therefore we have no need to §20be taught. For we must be guided even unto the end, and we know that our perfection is not in this world, nor so long as we bear our flesh about us, and are conversant here beneath. Again, whom soever God hath honoured by setting them in state & degree of preeminence: let them understand that they have need to be told of their duty, and to be quickened up to discharge themselves accordingly.
WE haue seene already what warning Moses gaue for the choosing of men meete to gouerne the people. For (as hath bin declared) if they had taken iudges at all aduenture, it had bin a defiling of Gods seate. Therefore in that case, it behooued them to vse good discretion. But here Moses addeth a point which wee ought to marke well. For although he had procured, that §10such as were chosen were men that feared God, and were indued with singular giftes: yet ceasseth he not to put them in minde of their duety, and to warne them of the thinges that they had to doe. Wherein wee see, that euen the wisest haue neede to be taught, and the vprightest and iustest haue neede to bee warned. And therefore if God haue set vs in the good way, and bestowed giftes of his holy spirit vpon vs: let vs not thinke that therefore wee haue no neede to §20bee taught. For wee must bee guided euen vnto the ende, and wee knowe that our perfection is not in this world, nor so long as wee beare our flesh about vs, and are conuersant here beneath. Againe, whom soeuer God hath honoured by setting them in state & degree of preheminence: let them vnderstand that they haue neede to be told of their duetie, and to bee quickened vp to discharge themselues accordingly.