A17698:312
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.
Now let us come to that which is added here in the second place: which is, That God had given Mount Seir in possession to Esau. True it is that when he compareth Esau and Jacob together,1 he saith by his prophet, Is not Esau Jacobs brother? And yet have I placed him in a hilly country,§10 in a stony and barren country: and I have given you a fruitful and fat land. Hereby the people of Israel are put in mind, that God had bestowed many mo benefits upon them, than upon those that went afore them. For Esau was the elder son, and yet did God disherit him of the land that he had promised to his grandfather Abraham, and to his father Isaac. And why did God so? we see none other reason, but for that he listed to utter his free §20goodness towards Jacob and his linage. The people of Israel could not say, we were the more noble and excellent: for the birthright belonged to Esau. They could not say, we were better. No: for we see they were a people set altogether upon malice and unthankfulness. Now then, their inheriting of the promised land befell them not for any worthiness of their own, but through Gods mere mercy. And besides this, God had also provided for Ismael who was §30half a bastard. For the matching of Abraham with Hagar was not a lawful marriage. And although it was no adultery: yet was not that marriage altogether allowed of God. But yet did God provide for Ismael, inasmuch as he said, I have heard him. If the case stood so with Ismael, much more reason was it that Esau should have some place, and that God should extend his blessing even to those that were of his linage. And for that cause did he §40give him mount Seir. Now therefore, in this consideration the people of Israel ought not to trouble him, but to let him alone with the portion that was assigned him from heaven.
Now let vs come to that which is added here in the second place: which is, That God had giuen Mount Seir in possession to Esau. True it is that when he compareth Esau and Iacob together,1 he sayth by his prophet, Is not Esau Iacobs brother? And yet haue I placed him in a hillie countrie,