A17698:3342
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.
We have here a law which might seem altogether superfluous among us: for as it is at this day out of use, so the reason also of it remaineth no longer. And therefore we must take it patiently, if all the things which are declared here do not wholly belong unto us, or else if they be not so fully understood of us, as were meet: and yet for all that we will §20assay to gather some profitable doctrine out of it. For indeed, God hath left nothing in his law, but we may fare the better by it, if he give us the wisdom to know how to use it. First we see how Gods will was that the houses should be maintained in Israel. And this was not for any such respect as men have commonly in the world; for noble men would be spoken of after their death, and therefore they would build up a kind of immortality here on earth.§30 God meant not to food this folly among men. And verily if we were so wise as we should be, we would consider, that like as our life passeth, and glideth, and vanisheth away out of hand; so GOD would not have our hearts settled here below, to desire to be renowned upon earth: but that as our inheritance is in heaven, so we should consider that it ought to suffice us that we have our names written in the book of life. This is it wherein our rejoicing ought to §40be,1 as our Lord Jesus Christ telleth his disciples. So then we have to note, that GOD meant not to rock men asleep in this foolish ambition, whereunto they are overmuch given; to wit, to be of fame and renown here: he had another respect than so. And that was, that because the parting of the land of Canaan was made according to his will, he would have this order maintained and no change made to the contrary, so as the inheritances should return §50always to the same they were at the first, as we know they did in the year of Jubilee.2 In respect whereof when a man deceased without children, to the intent there should be some stock of him, and that the kindred should always continue, and that the inheritances should not go out of the name; it is said, that one of the kinsmen should take the widow to wife: