A17698:2386
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 therewithal assure our selves, that our Lord in giving us his sacraments, giveth us not rittleratles and childish trifles to busy our heads withal: but that he giveth us the very trueth, to the end we should be knit unto him, and that we might feel that his power is ever at hand with us. Thus much concerning the saying where Moses speaketh again of Gods presence, & commandeth the Jews to resort to Jerusalem, when God should have chosen the place: & in the mean while to resort to the place ⟨p. 619⟩where the ark of the covenant & the sanctuary were set up. And finally he saith, That they should not come empty before the lord, but that every man should bring somewhat according as God had blessed him. Some have taken this text to be a kind of promise, as though God had said that such as resorted unto him, should not go their way again empty. True it is that if we seek God, we shall find plenty of all good things in him, according as it is said, Come unto him and ye shall be enlightened,1 and §10your faces shall not be ashamed. Therefore let us not think that we shall want any thing if we seek God, for he will fill us; as he is rich, so is he liberal, we shall be satisfied, and have our fill of all things that we have need of for our salvation. Then is it very true in it self, that all such as offer themselves before God, shall not return empty according as it is written;2 Open thy mouth and I will fill it. But as in respect of this present place, it is certain that Moses speaketh of Offerings:§20 and we must not bring in any other glosses. For he declareth that every man ought to offer according to the gift of his hand, that is to say, according to his ability. For that kind of speech were strange to us, if we were not made to understand it; namely, that every man ought to consider what GOD hath given him, that he may do him homage for it. Therefore look what we have in our hand, that let us take to offer unto God, and to make sacrifice to §30him withal. In the time of the Law, the offerings were applied to such use as we have seen heretofore, and we need not to rehearse the Ceremony any more. As now in remaineth that we do homage to GOD at all times, with the goods that he hath bestowed upon us. And how may that be done? By Almsdeeds.