A17698:1793
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.
Whereby God showed that those things were not done upon ambition or worldly covetousness, but that it was his own doing, who had set down the order that should be ⟨p. 459⟩kept in his Church and Temple. Notwithstanding all this, those lewd persons fell to rebelling, & charged Aaron falsely with usurping the dignity of the high priesthood. So was God fain to maintain his own doing. And thereupon Moses said unto them, How now? What is Aaron? As if he should say, hath he thrust himself in of his own head? No: & now although he be of Gods advancing to that high and honourable state, yet if ye consider all things aright, he doth but only serve you. But §10those malicious creatures were not contented with that. We be sanctified (said they) we be gods people; & what are you more? In this case god was to put to his hand for the redress of it: And according as was commanded by Moses, To morrow (quoth he) let every of you bring his sensor, & you that are the chief of this rebellion, (for they were as then to the number of two hundred & fifty) come together, & you shall see by your offerings, whether parties service is best liked of God. This done he §20said unto the people, Assure your selves that if these folk do dye the common death, and that God lay not his hand upon them in your sight, so as some horrible & dreadful punishment do not light upon their heads: I am contented that ye shall not esteem me as sent of God. But if ye perceive ye god make good the thing that I have uttered with my mouth, then be ye sure that I have don nothing on mine own head, but that I have faithfully performed that which was enjoined me from heaven. Hereupon §30the earth opened and swallowed up those rebels that had made the insurrection among the people. And when this was done, the people forbore not to murmur still & to say, See here I pray you, how Moses and Aaron fall to destroying of Gods people. Those whom God hath chosen must be fain to perish at their pleasure, to maintain their priestly dignity, and of the same number are we also. What an unkindness is this? Ye see here how God had wrought a miracle that §40ought to astonish & amaze the whole world, yea even the very brute beasts & all: and yet this people which reported themselves to be chosen and holy, cease not to repine & rebel still of malicious set purpose, against God and his hand that was openly to be seen.