A17698:2193
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.
Forasmuch as Moses, in speaking heretofore of first fruits and offerings,1 and freewill oblations; had commanded that they should be offered in Jerusalem, or else in the place which God was then to choose: now he addeth, that if a man dwelt too far off from that place, he §50might make money of the things that were to be given for an offering unto God, and after the sale thereof, buy the like things again, which should be wholly dedicated to God whatsoever they were. Now I have told you already, how it was not for naught that God would have one certain place, wherein to offer solemn sacrifices unto him and to worship him: for it served to maintain the unity of faith. Insomuch that if every tribe, or at leastwise every city had had an Altar by themselves; §60it had bin enough to have made havoc of all, and men could not have continued in concord and brotherly love. Therefore it behoved the Temple to be a meeting place for Gods people, to the intent they should altogether acknowledge themselves to be but one body, and understand that they were bound all to one rule, which is the law, and all of them obey the same, without any diversity of opinions, or strange manner of dealings, or ceremonies among them. And in the same respect also were they commanded to offer in the Temple, to the end that every man should not behave himself after his own devotion as they term it. For when men will needs serve God after their own fancy, there will be nothing but corruption. We must always bear this saying in mind, that obedience is better than all the sacrifices in the world.2 And therefore they were forbidden to offer sacrifice in any other place than only one which was appointed for that purpose, to the intent they should not every man muse upon foolish superstitions, but hold themselves to the order that was set down, without attempting any thing rashly and fondly upon their own heads as I said. And this is spoken expressly unto us. For although we have not the selfsame order of religion which was among the ancient fathers under the Law: yet doth this ground stand still, that God will ⟨p. 566⟩not be worshipped after our opinion, but according to his own will. Therefore let us be well ware that we invent not superstitions (as the Papists have done) upon surmise that they will be accepted of God: