A17698:2156
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.
for we be preferred before the holy fathers and Patriarchs which were worthier to have been preferred than we,1 and yet notwithstanding God kept them under like little children, whereas nowadays he dealeth with us as with perfect men of full age and growth. Seeing then that God useth such goodness and liberality towards us: have we not the more cause to honour him?
for we be preferred before the holy fathers and Patriarkes which were worthier to haue beene preferred than wee,1 and yet notwithstanding God kept them vnder like litle children, whereas nowadayes hee dealeth with vs as with perfect men of full age and grouth. Seeing then that God vseth such goodnesse and liberalitie towards vs: haue we not the more cause to honour him?
- 1• Pet. 1.10. & Gal. 4.1.
But now let us come back again to the matter which I was in hand with afore, and show yet further how all the said things may redound to the benefiting and profiting of us, as well in faith as in the fear of God. I have told you already, that whereas God did put a difference between beasts, declaring some to be clean and some unclean, it was to accustom the Jews unto the spiritual cleanness, even in eating and drinking. True it is that God enjoined §20them soberness and temperance therein: but he had yet a further respect, which was that in all things they should have a care to be undefiled, and to have such a stay of themselves, as they might not be stained with the uncleanness of the world. Gods intent then was to give them as it were a kind of exercise, to keep them the better in ure. We know how men do take too large scope in eating and drinking. For whereas the rest of their life doth put