A17698:1945
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.
Although Moses have treated of this matter heretofore, yet is it not without cause that he §20goeth to it again for the better confirming thereof. For as I have told you already, Men are always desirous to pass their bounds, & cannot submit themselves to God, to attempt nothing beyond his word. Wherefore let us mark well that God thinks it not enough to tell men once for all, that they should behave themselves according to his word & ordinance: but he repeateth the same lesson oftentimes,§30 to the intent that men should take the better heed of it, and mark it the better. And because the people had not as yet the law written as touching the Ceremonies; it is said expressly, You shall not do as ye do now. For it behoved the people to bridle themselves thereafter as they were taught. Howbeit, for the better understanding of this text, it might be demanded first, whether the Israelites did for a time offer sacrifice at their own pleasure, without rule, or without §40being certain what God required or allowed. The answer hereunto is, that they had always some mark to shoot at, and that they had not the bridle so loose in their necks, but that they knew how they ought to sacrifice. And in deed, we hear how the Apostle sayeth to the Hebrews,1 that from Abel forth on, there was no sacrifice accepted but by faith. And faith importeth always an obedience, so as if men deal at adventure, there is no faith at all in §50them. But the Apostle sayeth expressly that Abel's sacrifices pleased God because of his faith. Whereupon it followeth, that God hath ever showed his will to the faithful, so as they have not gone to work unadvisedly, but have had such certainty as was requisite for them. And whereas Moses reporteth in Genesis that Noah sacrificed of clean beasts unto God;2 it doth us to understand that Noah must needs have had some knowledge of the difference of them aforehand:§60 for it passed his understanding to find out which beasts were clean. Needs therefore must it be that God had imprinted it in him: and that order hath continued for ever. And so is it certain that the Israelites never had any such lawless liberty, but that they knew which was the true way of worshipping GOD. Also it is expressed by Moses that Abraham would instruct his posterity in the judgements,