A17698:262
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.
As touching that which is said of Joshua: it is one notable point more. For behold, he is appointed to succeed in Moses room, yea, and yet was he but his servant. And afterward Moses is commanded to encourage him. Here we §20see that God will take the things that are not greatly esteemed among men, yea and exalt them above our opinion, as we see he hath used to do at all times: and not without cause: for thereby he intendeth to pull down all pride according to this saying of Saint Paul, that he chooseth the weak things,1 yea even to the end that men should not glory in their own strength: and he chooseth the foolish things, to the end that men should not glory in their §30wisdom: and when he taketh the things that are despised, it is to the end that men should not trust in their own credit, nor be puffed up with their own worthiness. And it is very requisite that it should be so: for we see how every man seeks to advance himself, and we leave nothing to God as near as we can. Nay rather if we do but yield him the titles that belong unto him, it is but in way of dalliance: and in the mean while we would that all should be in our §40own persons. Now forasmuch as men have this pride rooted in them: God must be fain to show them by experience, that all of it is but vanity: and so doth he, by choosing the things that are not regarded, and by serving his turn with such as are not esteemed to be of any great renown. If we look how God chooseth men sometimes, to set them in preeminence: we will say, who would have looked for this? And God worketh after that manner, to the intent that those by §50whom he serveth his turn, should learn to acknowledge themselves beholden to him for their dignity wherein he hath set them, and understand that they obtained it not by their own power and policy, but that it is God which hath placed them in that degree. For if they think they have ought of their own purchasing: God will show them the contrary. That then is the thing which we have to mark, when it is here declared that God preferred Joshua before Moses §60insomuch that although Moses had now of long time been clad with the grace of the holy Ghost: although he had been chosen to be the Redeemer [or Ransomer] of the people: although God had set his marks upon him: