A17698:2531
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 we must understand by the way, how it is not enough that the law be set down, unless God write it in our hearts by his holy spirit: For else it is but a dead letter,1 and so will kill us, because we shall be justly condemned by ⟨p. 654⟩the doctrine thereof, which serveth to bereave us of all excuse. Therefore whensoever our Lord commandeth us any thing, let us learn that we must run unto him, that he may write the things in our hearts, which we read written in paper or parchment. As touching riches, we must not conclude that there was the like fault. For why?2 When David gathered such a mass of gold and silver, it was to build the temple of God, and not to make any other enterprises, as §10we know. Again, we see not that he grieved his people, though there were great complaints after the death of Solomon: but of that we will treat hereafter both for David and for Solomon. The intent of David then was good and holy, forasmuch as in gathering all things together which were requisite for the building of the Temple, he attempted not any thing which was not commanded him of God. Also the means were lawful. For he laid no tyrannical §20charge upon his people. As for Solomon, he had the great riches gathered aforehand by his father. And again we must mark, that a great part of those things were such as he had conquered of the Infidels,3 and their spoils were as ye would say, presents, which God had given him, as is spoken thereof in the Psalm. And therefore Solomon for his part might lawfully use all those goods, specially forsomuch as it was said, that the kings §30of Tarshish and of all the isles and far countries should come and bring gold and silver,4 and all manner of precious things, and again, that there should be given unto him of the gold of Arabia, because it was Gods will that the kingdom of Israel should flourish after that manner. It was lawful for David and Solomon to gather treasure, so it were not upon ambition and pride, nor to undertake foolish enterprises and to overshoot themselves into looseness