A17698:2137
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.
But here a man might ask a question, how Moses may say that all the things which shall be found in such a City shall be accursed; and yet they must be put over unto God as an offering or sacrifice? Yet doeth GOD speak after that §30fashion in many places, and not without cause. For it is an offering of sacrifice unto him, when we protest that only he ought to be worshipped, and when we make as it were a solemn homage unto him. And again when other appurtenances come in place: as when men sacrificed under the Law, they protested that they were worthy of death, and yet notwithstanding they had a warrant of their reconcilement unto God, by the sacrifice that was to be offered. Also §40men offered of their goods unto GOD, as who should say, Lord, all that I have cometh of thee, and it is always at thy commandment. Ye see then that sacrifices were blessed: and yet nevertheless there was a kind of cursedness in the sacrifices that were offered for sin. In the Firstlings, Tenths, and such other like things, there was nothing but the praising of God and giving of thanks unto him: but as for the sacrifice that was offered for sin, it §50behoveth Gods curse to be thereupon, as who should say, Lo this is he that shall answer for all. To the end that men may be acquit and delivered from death, this sacrifice must answer for them. And therefore those sacrifices were called sins: and the same name is attributed to our Lord Jesus Christ, because he bare our curse in his person.1 But here is an other kind of cursedness; namely that GOD is honoured, and homage is done unto him by rooting §60out the things that had defaced his honour before. Therefore when a City is destroyed that had erst been a den of idolatry, and all the spoil thereof is set on fire: it is a sacrifice that God liketh very well of. And why so? Because it is a protesting that we be not willing to suffer any thing that impeacheth the honouring of him at all mens hands, and that all men should submit themselves to him, and his majesty be known as it ought to be. Now then we see how it is not without cause that Moses commanded sacrifice to be done unto GOD with the utter destruction of all things that had been infected and defiled with idolatry.