A17698:252
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.
But before we go any further, we must mark that where as Moses reporteth that God was angry with him for the peoples sakes: he doth it not to excuse himself that he had not done amiss: for then should he reply against God who had given sentence upon him.1 In the twentieth Chapter of the book of Numbers it is said expressly, thou shalt not enter into the land, because that thou and Aaron have not glorified the Lord before the people of Israel. So then we see that God chargeth not Moses with the sin of ⟨p. 49⟩the people, as who should say that he himself had been guiltless: but his meaning is that he fell not to evil of his own accord and moving, but was driven to it as by a storm, when he saw such uproar and hurlyburly among the people, that he was at his wits end and wist not what to do, by means whereof he had not a present faith to give glory unto God. The intent of Moses then is not to wash his hands, as though he were not blame worthy at all: but to do the §10people to understand that the very mischief sprang of them. Nevertheless it may be thought strange how Moses should offend, seeing it appeareth not in all the rehearsal of the story. It is said that the people grudged against God,2 because they wanted drink in the wilderness, saying: Had it not been better for us that God had killed us in Egypt? Must he needs bring us into this dry and barren place, that we might die here for thirst? it appeareth well that he §20hateth us, and that his intent is to make us to linger here in torments: and in the mean while we be past all hope of doing well. After this manner did the people murmur. On the contrary part Moses weepeth and resorteth unto God, saying: Alas Lord, oughtest thou to have so slender a reward for thy delivering of this people through thine own goodness, as to have thy holy name blasphemed by them? What could Moses have done better than this? For §30he is so far off from consenting to the wickedness of the people, to be any companion with them: that he weepeth to see the offence committed against God.