A17698:146
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.
Let us proceed to the things that he addeth: namely, that being come to the hill of the Amorites, he said, Let us possess the Land which the Lord our God and the God of our fathers promised us. For it is here before us, that is to say, at our commandment, as he had said afore, for this is but a repetition of that which were have seen already. And here Moses setteth forth the promise that God had made unto the people, to the end to assure them of the Land in such wise, as they should be out of all doubt that it was their own. And why? Because it had been promised them of God. Behold (saith he), thy God meant not to lye to thee, nor to beguile thee: and therefore thou mayest assure thy self, that the thing which he hath spoken shall be performed. Mark that for one point.
Let vs proceede to the things that he addeth: namely, that being come to the hill of the Amorrhytes, he saide, Let vs possesse the Lande which the Lord our God and the God of our fathers promised vs. For it is here before vs, that is to saye, at our commaundement, as hee had said afore, for this is but a repetition of that which were haue seene already. And heere Moses setteth forth the promise that God had made vnto the people, to the end to assure them of the Land in such wise, as they shoulde bee out of all doubt that it was their owne. And why? Because it had bene promised them of God. Beholde (saith he), thy God ment not to lye to thee, nor to beguile thee: and therefore thou maist assure thy selfe, that the thing which hee hath spoken shalbe performed. Marke that for one point.
Nevertheless, to the end that the people may the better understand, that they were not to possess the land for their own deserts sake: he telleth them expressly, It is the God of your fathers that doth it. For the Land was promised as well to Abraham as to Isaac and Jacob, before the Jews which then lived, were borne. Thereby then are they put in mind, that they had not deserved such a benefit at Gods hand, but that it proceeded wholly of his free goodness. And so much the more were they to blame, in that they had felt such experience of Gods goodness, and their sin also was so much the heinouser, in that they acknowledged not the mercy that he had used towards them. That then is the effect of Moseses meaning here.