A17698:1904
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 he saith expressly that they be the statutes and ordinances of the God of their fathers. Which serveth to the better confirming of the matter that we have seen hereto fore: which is, that the Land §60of Canaan was given them by virtue of the covenant and promise that was made before they were borne. The Jews then are put in mind in this place to think themselves beholden to Gods free bestowed goodness, for their promised inheritance forasmuch as they could not boast of it as of a conquest, because God had assigned it to their fathers before they were borne. Nevertheless his purpose is also to confirm them in the doctrine of the Law, to the end they might know that they worshipped not a new god, or a god lately found out: but the same God which had bin revealed to their fathers in all ages afore, & therefore he telleth them they were less to be excused, if they held them not to the religion that had bin known in all times afore, at leastwise among their fore fathers. For we hear what God upbraideth them withal by his prophet Jeremiah. Go seek all the world about (saith he) go over the sea,1 & see if the heathen nations have changed their gods, and yet they be but idols. Sith you see such steadfastness & constancy in the infidels, that they be not variable in their superstitions, but rather as it were wedded & wilfully given over to them: what a shame will it be to you to have forsaken the living God when ye have known him, & not to continue in his word? Then let us mark well in this text, that Gods upbraiding of the Jews with his manifesting of himself unto them & to their fathers so long time aforehand, is to the end they should be the more worthy to be condemned, if they held not them selves to the doctrine which had bin so well warranted unto them. But let us mark also that it is not enough for us that our forefathers held some kind of religion: but we must also see that the same be allowable. And whereas it is said here, that their forefathers knew the same God which had set forth his Law to them at that time: the knowledge or opinion which the fathers had, is not the chief ground that we ought to stand upon; for God presupposeth that he had so certified them of his word, as they were not in any doubt at all. Therefore first let us learn to know what our Lord declareth unto us; and then let us afterward go to antiquity.
And he sayth expresly that they be the statutes and ordinances of the God of their fathers. Which serueth to the better confirming of the matter yt we haue seene heereto fore: which is, that the Land