A17698:2233
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.
He saith that his blessing shall be upon the people, so as they shall all prosper, and have wherewith to lend, & not be driven to borrow: and that they shall reign over many Nations, and no Nation shall reign over them. The cause why our Lord addeth this promise, is to confirm the law. And at a word (as I have said heretofore) albeit that our Lord might command after a precise manner: yet doth he apply himself to us, endeavouring to win us to him, that §50we should obey him with a free heart, and not go to work by compulsion and constraint. Ye see then that the thing which he requireth of us, is that we should offer him freewill offerings as they term them.1 But let us mark that the upright dealing which we have treated of, served but only for the Jews. And therefore this promise, I will bless you, answereth thereunto. For it was lawful for the Jews to pursue strangers, such as were not circumcised. After that manner meant §60Moses. But if any strangers received the law of Moses, they were privileged, as being of the body of the Jewish people. But as for them that worshipped not the God of Israel, & were among them but only in way of traffic or for some other affairs: they enjoyed not the benefit of this law whereby the sewing of men for debt was forbidden. And the reason thereof was that they kept not the Sabbath for any devotions sake. True it is that they were fain to rest themselves whether they would or no; it was not lawful for them in any wise to work; they were driven to submit themselves to Gods ordinance: but yet in the mean while they had no desire to serve the God of Israel. And therefore they were not to be spared as in respect of common policy. But now that Gods grace is shed forth every where, we must not make any more difference between Jew and Gentile. For (as sayeth Saint Paul) our Lord Jesus Christ hath broken down the partition wall,2 to the end that being adopted of God for his children, we should maintain brotherly unity among our selves, and every of us acknowledge his neighbour to be as his brother.
He saith that his blessing shalbe vpon the people, so as they shall all prosper, and haue wherwith to lend, & not be driuen to borrow: and that they shall reigne ouer many Nations, and no Nation shall reigne ouer them. The cause why our Lord addeth this promise, is to confirme the lawe. And at a word (as I haue said heretofore) albeit that our Lord might command after a precise manner: yet doth he apply himselfe to vs, indeuoring to win vs to him, that