A17698:2606
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 therewithal we must also remember the fearfulness of the people. It is said, Let us not hear the voice of our God any more, nor see this great fire any more, 1for fear least we die. I have told ⟨p. 674⟩you already how it was Gods will to authorise his Law by doing the miracles that were seen at mount Horeb. And it was meet that the Law should be ratified after that fashion, to the intent men might know that Moses devised it not of his own head, nor added any thing to it of his own: but that God was the author thereof. When the trumpets sounded in the air, when the sky was on a fire, when the great thunders were heard, and when the order of §10nature was changed: the Jews ought well to have understood, that God showed himself to be their governor, and that the Law came of him, and that he avowed it to be his. Ye see then that that was as a seal to make the Law of God to be of authority. But there was yet another reason; which was that God meant to make the Jews perceive that the Law could do them no good, but only make them at their wits ends, I mean the Law so far forth as it §20showeth us the rule to live well. For whereas God commandeth us to do the things that he alloweth; indeed it is the way of life and welfare. But what are we? We have a froward nature: and in stead of obeying and of behaving our selves as becometh us;2 we cease not to offend God. Now he pronounceth his curse upon all such as transgress his commandments. All of us therefore are condemned by the Law, and there is no remedy but God must §30be our Judge. And therefore it was meet that all the tokens which God gave at the setting forth of his Law, should be terrible, and that the people should be made afraid with them.3 And in the same respect doth S. Paul say that we receive not the spirit of fearfulness in the Gospel; & after the same manner also is it spoken of in the Epistle to the Hebrews.