A17698:1946
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 he doth us to understand, that although there was not as then any law written; yet notwithstanding Abraham failed not to have knowledge of the things that God required & of whatsoever else was requisite. For Moses could have said at one word, Abraham will teach his children to live well and holily and according to the will of God: but he sayeth that he will teach them his laws, statutes & ordinances. To what purpose? I have told you before, that it was to magnify God the better, for his well providing of all things requisite to the serving of him, so as the faithful could not stand in any doubt, but were sure of their duty what they ought to do.
Whereby he doth vs to vnderstand, yt although there was not as then any law writtē; yet notwithstanding Abraham failed not to haue knowledge of the things yt God required & of whatsoeuer else was requisite. For Moses coulde haue sayde at one woorde, Abraham will teach his children to liue well and holily and according to the wil of God: but he sayeth that he wil teache them his lawes, statutes & ordinances. To what purpose? I haue told you before, that it was to magnifie God the better, for his well prouiding of all things requisite to the seruing of him, so as the faithful could not stand in any doubt, but were sure of their dutie what they ought to doe.
According hereunto therefore let us mark, that when the people of Israel came out of Egypt, their sacrificing was not after the manner of the Heathen, according to the invention of man: but after a heavenly order, that is to say, according to the order which God had appointed. Yet notwithstanding it is true that there was not as yet any such particular declaration made of the Sanctuary, and of all the appurtenances and things belonging thereunto, as we see is set down in Exodus and Leviticus. These things (say I) were not so particularly set forth: it was not yet said unto them, You shall have but one altar, which shall be of such a measure, of such a height, and of such a breadth: you shall have a Tabernacle of such manner of stuff, of thus many pieces, thus long, and thus broad: You shall have fire burning continually in the Sanctuary: Your sacrifices shall never be offered without Salt: there shall always be light and perfume in the Temple: The cakes that shall be offered in the Temple shall be of such a fashion: There shall be bread continually before the Lord, and it shall be renewed day by day: Again there shall be a high Priest, which shall enter once a year into the narrow Sanctuary, and there shall be an Altar of burnt sacrifices for him to offer upon from day to day. These things were not yet thus set out: & that is the thing which Moses meaneth in this text when he saith, Ye shall not do after the same manner