A17698:13
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.
To all the faithful which hold the holy faith of the true Catholic Church, and generally to all Christian Readers: Greeting in Jesus Christ our Lord and GOD. Amen.
To all the faithfull which hold the holie faith of the true Catholike Church, and generallie to all Christian Readers: Greeting in Iesus Christ our Lord and GOD. Amen.
IT is not without cause, that the psalm speaking of the great benefits which GOD had bestowed upon the Jews, among whom was his Church at that time, doth chiefly magnify the grace which he had uttered towards them in delivering unto them the sure rule of his service, the true manner of good life, & the right way of salvation, aswell by the writings of Moses and other his servants, as also by the lively voice of them agreeing with their writings. For without that all the abundance and prosperity which they could have had, had been but as records against them to have increased still the measure of their condemnation. Therefore having spoken of Gods defending of the gates of the holy city Jerusalem, of his blessing upon the inhabitants thereof, of the peace and quietness that was in all coasts about it, and of his carefulness in furnishing it with all things necessary for the maintenance of the whole people: finally he setteth down the principal point whereon the sweetness and assurance of all the rest hung, saying: He hath given forth his word unto Jacob, & his statutes and judgements unto Israel. And this benefit was at that time peculiar to the city of Jerusalem, and to the people that came of Abraham, according as it is said expressly in the same text, that God had not dealt so with any other nation, nor given them knowledge of his judgements. But we know that Jesus Christ hath by his coming made the same grace to extend to all nations of the earth, and that look whatsoever he had promised by his Prophets in the holy scriptures, he hath performed it by his holy Apostles, who have preached the Gospel faithfully, as their writings do authentically, fully, and sufficiently witness. This advertisement therefore belongeth as now to all churches of our lord Jesus Christ, in what countries soever they be, so as they ought to acknowledge Gods mercy in that he teacheth them familiarly and in such language as they may understand, by the reading and preaching of his word. For so little ought the long interceassing of so great a benefit (enforced through the tyranny of Antichrist) to make us to hold scorn of it, now that God reneweth the course thereof again: that contrariwise we should think it the more sweet and amiable, praising God for restoring us the thing through his great mercy, which Satan's underlings had wickedly bereft us of: