A17698:2498
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.
for he shall spoil their houses, take away their sons & daughters, consume their substance, lay taxes & tallages upon them, & (to be short) use them like wretched bondslaves. See §50what they have won by requiring a king.
for he shall spoyle their houses, take away their sons & daughters, consume their substance, lay taxes & tallages vpon them, & (to be short) vse them like wretched bondslaues. See §50what they haue wonne by requiring a king.
And in this text our Lord showeth, that as in respect of worldly government, he had chosen the best state that could be; namely that the Law should reign over the people, & therewithal that there should be Judges in every city, & a chief governor over all, to the intent that matters might be determined and concluded, as was declared yesterday: howbeit with this most noble condition, which God reserved to himself, namely that our Lord Jesus §60Christ should reign over them. For it behoved them to be under one head, howbeit not simply of a mortal man, but of the son of God. But forasmuch as the time was not yet come that such grace should be showed: it behoved the hope thereof to be fed with some figure. And that was the cause why it was promised by the mouth of Jacob,1 that the sceptre should not depart from the tribe of Judah. God did purposely choose out one tribe, & when he meant to set up the king, he said that the reign of him should be durable until the coming of his own son, who was the true heir, and the very party to whom the crown belonged, namely our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus have we now a brief declaration after what sort God meant to stablish a kingdom among his people, howbeit, that was in respect of our Lord Jesus Christ. But as in respect of worldly government, the best and most desirable state, was to have Judges, that is to say, to be in liberty, and yet notwithstanding to be overruled by Laws. Now thereby we be done to understand, that although all worldly government deserve to be esteemed as a holy thing, & behoofefull for the maintenance of mans state, yet notwithstanding, when it pleaseth GOD to give us a mean kind of government, void of tyranny, wherein the Magistrates do rule after such a sort, that the Laws have their due course: the same is a special privilege, and we ought then to perceive thereby that God is near at hand to us, & that he pitieth us as his household folk, and as those that are of his flock, & his own heritage. Mark that then for one point. But therewithal we must mark also, that when we shall have known Gods grace in his governing of us in this earthly and transitory life;