A17698:1816
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.
And whereas Moses speaketh here but only of the land of Canaan, & of the fruits that the people should gather there for their finding and sustenance: it is not for that God meant not to lead the faithful any further than so at that time: for it is certain that they had the promise of life after the same manner as it is contained at this day in the Gospel. And therefore it is horrible blasphemy against God, to say that God held the people of old time like swine in a sty, and that they had no more but a certain figure of the spiritual good things which are given us presently in these days, as that wretched caitiff said which was punished here, who turned all things upside down, & was so bold as to belch out this heresy, that the old testament was nothing else but a figure: insomuch that even Abraham the father of all the faithful, had but a fantastical faith and knew not God aright. And for proof thereof (quoth he,) he worshipped Angels in stead of God, & had no knowledge of the everlasting life. Lo what cursed stuff here was: for we know (saith S. Paul) that the fathers of old time were the children of God,1 & heirs of the kingdom of heaven as well as we. There is but this difference, that they were like young children: but yet for all that ▪ they failed not to possess the benefit, howbeit that they were still under tutors and governors, according to the similitude that S. Paul allegeth there. The ancient fathers had the law & the ceremonies & such other like things: but yet they wanted not the substance & trueth also. Now then, Gods setting forth of the land of Canaan to the Jews was not to the intent they should stand poring upon it, like swine that stand muzzling with their groins in their swill trough: but under the earthly inheritance which he had promised to their fathers, he gave them a taste of the heavenly heritage, accordingly as we see it in their sacrificing, although they offered brute beasts: yet were they made partakers of the redemption that is purchased for us by our Lord Jesus Christ; and their offering of the brute beasts in sacrifice, directed them to the redemption that was wrought by the son of God,2 when he shed his holy blood to wash away our spots and sins. And after the same manner was it with the land of Canaan. For such was their slender capacity, that it behoved them to be guided that way.