A17698:2353
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.
Moses teacheth here of the second great solemnity which was kept yearly among the Jews: and that was to give God thanks after the gathering of their harvest. And this day was named Pentecost, [that is to say fifty §30days,] because there were seven weeks between Easter and that, so as there were nine and forty days between those feasts, whereunto one being added for the feast day it self, made fifty. And the Greek word signifieth the same thing: but the Hebrews called it the feast of weeks, and all cometh to one thing. Thus then we see now what this feast whereof Moses speaketh here, that is to wit a mean to put them in mind to honour God for sending §40his benefits to the sustenance of man. And this concerned all manner of fruits of the earth: Howbeit under one kind, all the rest were comprehended, as if God had exhorted his people to confess that all good things come of him. The sum then is, that we must acknowledge not only that God hath set us in this world, but also that he showeth himself continually to be a fosterfather, and that he maintaineth us, and that he maketh the earth to yield fruit to §50find us withal, and at a word, that we live by his mere liberality. True it is that this ought to be done at all times of our life; howbeit by reason of mens grossness, it was requisite that there should be yearly a feast kept upon some one certain day of the year. Moreover (as I have told you already) the feasts of the Jews served not only for the benefits that God had bestowed upon them already, but also for a service. And so, to be short, Gods will was §60that the Jews should give him thanks one day in the year, that thereby they might be provoked to acknowledge all their life after, that they were sustained at his hand, so as they should never take any repast, but that they should think thus with themselves, we have offered sacrifice to God after harvest: whereby we were put in mind that it is he which hath sent us our sustenance. Therefore are we hypocrites, if we think not upon his goodness daily, or if we turn not to him as often as we eat or drink, to acknowledge him to be the author of all welfare. So then, this solemn protestation made once a year was not a discharge for men to forget God all the rest of the time:
MOses teacheth heere of the seconde great solemnitie which was kepte yearely among the Iewes: and that was to giue God thankes after the gathering of their haruest. And this day was named Pentecost, [that is to say fiftie