A17698:2311
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.
And that the Paschal Lamb was not a bare ceremony without doctrine, it appeareth by that which is written in the twelfth of Exodus;1 where it is said, that when the Lamb is sacrificed as it is a eating, if their children ask what it meaneth: their fathers shall answer, The Lord brought us out of the land of Egypt where we were in bondage, & therefore he will have this thing done yearly in remembrance thereof: not that the doing thereof one only day may discharge us: but that the same should continue printed in our hearts, so as in enjoying the land of Canaan, we may understand that we conquered it not by our own strength, but through his good pleasure, because it was his will to harbour us here, according to the promise which he had made to our forefathers. We see then how the feast of Passover, was not a ceremony without instruction: but that it contained doctrine in it. And it is an article of great importance. For the world would always have a great number of ceremonies to no purpose: & in the mean while it seems enough to have store of gay shows. But on the the contrary part, God telleth us, that ceremonies are but toys & trifles, unless they lead us further, & behight us things concerning our salvation, so as we be taught & confirmed in the faith by means of them. If it be not in them, they be stark baggage, & nothing worth. Nay, they be nothing else than a corrupting of the service of God, and the high way to lead us to superstition and idolatry. ⟨p. 598⟩As for example, we see how they make a great number of disguisings in the Popedom: but in the mean while they wot not what any of those things mean. If ye come to their Mass, there they play an interlude, where there are as many fond toys as can be. In deed the wretched world is ravished at them: but that is because they know nothing, but are utterly sotted, and yet they bear themselves in hand that they have done a doughty deed, and that God §10ought to like very well of it, when they have so bestirred themselves. But (as I told you afore) they be but vain & fond Apish toys. And why so? For God never meant to ordain any ceremony among his people, which contained not some good instruction, and served not to some good end.
And that the Pascall Lamb was not a bare ceremonie without doctrine, it appeareth by that which is written in ye twelfth of Exodus;