A17698:2366
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.
The Jews were commanded to resort to Jerusalem as soon as harvest was done, & not only to rejoice there, but also to impart of their goods to their neighbours, so as there might be a common gladness among them, and God might be glorified with one accord. And now that these things are at this day accomplished: what have we to do? We must not run trotting to Jerusalem to worship God there and to do him homage there.1 For we must lift up our hands everywhere, howbeit so as they be clean. And moreover forasmuch as GOD hath not only sent us a harvest of corruptible fruits to nourish our bodies withal but also poured out the infinite riches of his holy spirit and sent us the living waters as is said in Ezekiel:2 let us understand that it is to the end we should have the mirth whereof S. Paul speaketh in the fourteenth to the Romans. Let us now rejoice then seeing our Lord hath showed himself so bountiful towards us, that he hath not withheld any of the chief good things which he had, but hath poured upon us all the benefits that concern the endless life and heavenly glory. Seeing then that we have received the holy Ghost, let us also be joyful in our harts. As how? By withdrawing ourselves from the vanities of this world, & by holding our selves contented with the favour of our God, praising him even in the midst of our afflictions. Albeit that we have not all things at will in this world: yet let us not cease to hold on still, assuring our selves that it ought to suffice us that our God is favourable to us, & that he showeth us his love. When we be at that point once, then shall we have such peace and contentment in us,3 as passeth all the joys of this world, yea and putteth away all the sorrows that may trouble us. And when we have such gladness our selves, we must to the uttermost of our power make them partakers of it, which have need. For if the Jews were commanded to call the widows, the fatherless, and the strangers to make merry with them, in spending of the goods which God had given them: much more reason is it, that seeing the spiritual gifts which God hath bestowed upon us, belong to the common building up of the Church as saith Saint Paul in the twelfth to the Romans,4