A17698:1551
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.
Behold, God had showed the people his wonderful power, he had made them to feel it, they knew themselves to §40be safe enough under his protection, and yet all this was nothing with them: they will needs have a calf, a dead thing, a corruptible thing, to make it their God. Was it not a hellish furiousness when they became so brutish? Seeing they had so lately even with in fresh remembrance heard the law uttered unto them, and that Moses was but gone aside: it was as if God had separated them all from this earthly life in the person of that one man. He meant to communicate §50himself familiarly unto them, as it were by taking them up into heaven: and in the mean while they become so unthankful and rebellious, that when he manifested himself to them, they stopped their eyes and would not see, but defaced his majesty and infinite power. Whereby? Even by a dead thing which was an idol. Surely such contempt▪ such unthankfulness, such beastliness should have made the Jews ashamed. And that is the cause why Moses §60speaketh expressly of that horrible crime which they had committed, in that they would needs have an idol to go before them, that is to say, some visible sign whereby it might be said that God was among them. Thus see we now the meaning of this text.
Beholde, God had shewed the people his wonderfull power, he had made them to feele it, they knewe themselues to §40bee safe ynough vnder his protection, and yet all this was nothing with them: they will needes haue a calfe, a dead thing, a corruptible thing, to make it their God. Was it not a hellishe furiousnesse when they became so brurishe? Seeing they had so lately euen with in freshe rememberaunce hearde the lawe vttered vnto them, and that Moses was but gone aside: it was as if God had separated them all from this earthly life in the person of that one man. Hee ment to communicate §50himselfe familiarly vnto them, as it were by taking them vp into heauen: and in the meane while they become so vnthankefull and rebellious, that when hee manifested himselfe to them, they stopped their eyes and would not see, but defaced his maiestie and infinite power. Whereby? Euen by a dead thing which was an ydoll. Surely such contempt such vnthankfulnesse, such beastlynesse should haue made the Iewes ashamed. And that is the cause why Moses