A17698:1248
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.
Here we have two reasons to mark why Moses commandeth, that such as were to come after that time, should be told why God gave his Law to the Jews, and why he would have them governed after that manner. The one is, that it is good reason that Gods name should be magnified in all ages, and that we should endeavour to the uttermost of our power, that it decay §10not with us, but continue still unimpaired, and flourish and reign, even after we be dead. The other reason is, that he intended to quicken up the Jews to serve God with the better courage, by putting them in mind of the deliverance which God had wrought for them: for needs must they have bin too unthankful, if that had not provoked them to serve God. Now then the intent of Moses, is that those to whom he had declared the Law, should not only endeavour §20themselves to serve GOD during their own lives: but also find the means that their children and successors should follow them in the same trace. And this lesson belongeth to us as well as to them. For we know that God calleth us with the same condition, not only that we our selves should serve and honour him to our lives end: but also that we should have a care to cause them that come after us to do the like. Verily there are very few that discharge §30themselves in that behalf: but yet are we bound unto it, and there will be no excuse for us, if we do not our endeavour. Therefore let every man have an eye to himself, and let us not think it enough to have served God so long as we our selves live: but [that we must also find the means] that his name may continue for ever, and that his trueth may [always] be known, so as although we be taken out of the world, yet they that come after us being taught by our means,§40 may link in with us into the same faith, and so fashion themselves thereunto, as God may always be glorified & honoured unto the worlds end. And specially they that have children ought to think that it is they to whom this warning is given. True it is that every one of us is bound thereto for himself, yea and we must teach even the most strangers: so as the man needeth not to be my son, or my nephew, or my kinsman, whom I should endeavour to cause to serve God & §50to be of the same faith and religion that I am of: