A17698:1666
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.
new again: But there were forty years between the one and the other. For Aaron dyed at such time as the people had outworn their term of forty years, during which time god had forfended them the land of promise. Now in the end of that term, Aaron was deprived of the dignity of the priesthood, and Eleazer his son was made high priest in his stead. But here Moses comprehendeth all that had bin done by the space of forty years, from the §10publishing of the law, unto the very same day that he exhorted the people to put themselves in better readiness to enter into their inheritance, than they had been in at the beginning. He telleth them that although there had happened many changes in the mean time, yet had God in effect provided, that his law was to be had always in estimation, & to be honoured, and that the world might perceive that his majesty was therein, & that all men ought to submit them selves §20thereunto. And for that cause doth Moses say, that he had chosen the children of Levi, notwithstanding that Aaron had sinned. For to what end doeth Moses speak here of his brothers death? Even to make it known, that God had showed favour towards the tribe of Levi, as well as towards all the rest of the people. The tribe of Levi was chosen to offer sacrifice: it was a prerogative which God had given them. And were they worthy of it? Could they boast §30themselves to have been more worthy than their brethren? It is true that they executed vengeance upon the idolaters, but yet was Moses fain to call them to him, and to command them to sanctify their hands.1 Ye must hallow your hands to the Lord, saith he: & how? in slaying those that have so grievously offended, and been an occasion of turning all things upside down. This day therefore it behoveth you to utter what zeal ye have towards the maintenance of gods §40honour, and to sanctify his name without sparing of your own brethren, or your nearest neighbours, forasmuch as they have so defaced Gods glory to the uttermost of their power, & therefore they must be utterly rooted out. The Levites did well execute the thing that Moses commanded them:2 but yet did the high priest Aaron make the golden calf. True it is that he withstood it, or at leastwise consented not to it: