A17698:1637
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.
Moses goeth forward here with the matter that he had begun afore: which was, to make the people understand how great the fault was which they had committed. For whereas he boasteth of Gods hearing of him, he doeth not to the intent the people should think themselves so much the more beholden to him therefore: that is not the thing which he looketh at: but that the people should thenceforth live in awe and humility, and bear in mind the fault that they had committed, and consider how they had well deserved to have been utterly ⟨p. 414⟩rooted out if God had not showed them mercy. And he saith that after he had lien upon the ground forty days and forty nights, he was heard: and this is to the end that by such circumstance, the people may the better learn, that if GOD had not hearkened to that vehement and earnest prayer of his, they had been utterly undone. It is an extraordinary thing, that a man should continue sighing and weeping before God, forty days and forty nights together:§10 and no doubt but this power was given to Moses by miracle, like as was his fasting of forty days and forty nights before. And to what purpose? To the end that the Law might be the better authorized thereby. For it might well seem that the covenant which God had made with the people, was quite broken and utterly disannulled: and therefore it was expedient that Moses should once again be separated from the company of men forty days and forty §20nights, that by that means, new authority might be purchased. But yet for all that, we must mark well, that whereas Moses forbore meat and drink forty days and forty nights together, it was not done by human power, neither was it (to speak properly) a fast of sobriety: (for he was exempted from hunger and thirst:) but it was done to the end that the Law should be received with the greater reverence, forasmuch as it came not of men, but Moses §30came down from the mountain as if an Angel had come down from heaven. And his praying was for the sins of the people, that God would not look upon the idolatry that had bin committed, but hold on still in his own purpose. For although Moses had broken the tables, and that he had done it through the impulsion of Gods spirit: yet notwithstanding, (as hath bin said already,) he ceased not to have compassion upon the people which was worthy to have bin rooted §40