A17698:2303
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.
Moreover whereas it is said that the first borne things which are to be offered, must be sound and without blemish: hereby we see how men would fain beguile God with their by shifts. For they would have picked the faultiest of their firstborn things to have offered unto God, and they would have thought with themselves, well, this shall be set out to do service withal in the Temple; for it will do me no service: yonder beast doth but pine away, well, he must serve for sacrifice. This were a plain mocking of God: and yet was it a common thing among the Jews. But let us come to our selves: there is none of us all but he findeth himself so ill minded, as to defraud God continually of somewhat that belongeth unto him. For, (to let pass the ceremony of offering the firstborn things) God requireth that every of us should offer up our selves unto him; and it is good reason that we should do so:1 for he hath redeemed us from the bondage of death. We were by nature the bondslaves of Satan, and behold, GOD hath made us his own children: therefore is it very meet, that we should do him homage with our persons. And as touching our souls, we know that the son of GOD spared not himself for the redeeming of them. And as for our bodies we hope that they shall be raised again to his heavenly glory. Is it not meet then that GOD should have the whole possession of us? But when it cometh to the offering up of ourselves to him, the world seeth that we go to it like cripples and purblind folk ⟨p. 596⟩Who is he that cometh freely unto God, and that suffereth himself to be utterly cast down & to be stripped out of his sinful nature? Nay, if we go towards God with the sight of one eye, with the sight of the other we are tied to the vanities of the world. If we lend him our ears a little while, by and by we be listening to some other thing. If we have any good thought tending towards him, we be corrupted a thousand ways. Such are the sacrifices that we offer unto God, that §10is to wit sinful sacrifices & full of corruption. To be short, howsoever the world go, God can have no right at our hands. Call he neversomuch upon us, & be he never so importunate with us, yet are we so hardhearted, that we will never yield him his due. Thus we see that although the ceremony of offering the first borne as well of cattle as of men, is taken away: