A17698:2300
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.
Now afterward followeth the Law of the first borne, wherein it is said, That all the firstborn Males shall be offered unto God, and that they shall be offered §30every year, in the place which the Lord shall have chosen, so they be not faulty, nor in any wise blemished. As for example, if a beast were goggle eyed, or blind, or lame, or had any other ill-favouredness or blemish in it: it might not be offered; but the beasts that were sound, were to be offered in the temple, as God had commanded to bring them to the place that he had chosen, according to that which hath bin told you heretofore. We know whereof this Law of offering up the firstborn things §40sprang,1 namely of Gods slaying of all the firstborn of the land of Egypt, as well of men as of beasts at such time as he was about to deliver his people out of the bondage of Egypt, & of his sparing of the children of Israel; for the blood of the paschal Lamb was dipped upon their doors, & that was done for their preservation. Now our Lords will was that the firstborn should be offered up to him in acknowledgement of that great benefit. For seeing the so great a miracle had bin wrought for them, it behoved §50them to honour God for it, & to be always the more moved to magnify his grace. But we see how forgetful we are in that behalf: insomuch that if God have done us any good turn, in deed we can speak of it & tell it forth with voice loud enough for a little while: but by & by it slippeth from us, & we think no more of it. But gods pouring out of his gracious goodness towards us, is to the end that we should mind it continually & bear it in remembrance ever after. Therefore is it requisite §60that we should be warned & put in mind of the things which we would else forget. Even so stood the case as in respect of the offering of the firstborn. For Gods will was that it should be a memorial of the said benefit, so as it might never be forgotten. And hereby let us mark, that although we have not the like ceremonies among us: yet doth God still exhort us to be mindful of the benefits that we have received at his hand. And the excellenter that his gracious doings are, the more ought we to be moved by them to exalt them, yea and to deal in such wise that even when we be dead and gone; our children may continue in doing the like.