A17698:2551
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.
To be short, we see how God did not this in favour of that one tribe only: but rather that he took that order for the benefit of the whole Church. For had the Priesthood ceased, and the order of the temple been abolished: at what point had the people been? All had gone to havoc. And we see also that when they were carried away captive, and the temple beaten down: they became as folk forlorn, & could not open their mouths to sing unto God as they had been wont to do. Sith it is so then, let us mark that our Lords intent was not to favour that one tribe alone; but generally to procure the benefit and salvation of his whole Church.1 And likewise when mention is made of the order of the Christian Church, it is not in respect of some small number of men: but Gods intent is to draw both great and small unto him.2 And let us mark that his ordaining of common prayer and of the administration of the sacraments, is because he seeth that without them our salvation could not stand, but all would go to wreck, & his grace would after a sort vanish away. And this ought to give us the better courage to give our minds to the doing of the things which our Lord commandeth us concerning the Ceremonies, concerning the resorting to his ⟨p. 661⟩word, concerning our meeting together in some place certain to call upon him in the company of the faithful. Let us consider, that seeing God hath ordained these things for our welfare, we must not withdraw our selves from them, but every of us must resort to them as much as we possibly can.
To be short, we see howe God did not this in fauour of yt one tribe onely: but rather that hee tooke yt order for ye benefit of the whole Church. For had the Priesthoode ceassed, and the order of the temple beene abolished: at what point had the people beene? All had gone to hauocke. And wee see also yt when they were carried away captiue, and the temple beaten downe: they became as folk forlorne, & could not open their mouthes to sing vnto God as they had beene wont to doe. Sith it is so then, let vs marke yt our Lordes intent was not to fauour that one tribe alone; but generally to procure the benefite and saluation of his whole Church.1