A17698:3395
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 to the intent that the people should here have nothing to plead, nor seek any starting holes to shift themselves from doing their duty: it is expressly said, When thou comest into the land which the Lord thy GOD giveth thee to inherit, and possess it, and doest dwell therein. For it is all one as if GOD did here avouch his title; as when a fine is set,§40 and any chiefage required, it is to be laid forth and declared, that he which is to receive the fine is the chief Lord, and owner thereof, & that his granting of it at the first was with such condition. Such is the case here. For God showeth that the Jews enjoyed that land, either by right of conquest as gotten by their own force & power, or by inheritance, or by purchase, or by gift of man: to be short he declareth that they can make no title unto it §50by any inferior mean, but that they must look up unto GOD above, and say: Our Lord hath vouchsafed to plant us in this land which was none of ours: we cannot say that it belonged unto us, our fathers had no right unto it: whence then do we receive this benefit but of the free gift of our GOD? It behooveth us therefore at leastwise to acknowledge this benefit, and to confess how greatly we are bound and indebted unto §60God.
Nowe to the intent that the people shoulde heere haue nothing to pleade, nor seeke any startingholes to shift themselues from dooing their duetie: it is expressely sayde, When thou commest into the lande which the Lorde thy GOD giueth thee to inherite, and possesse it, and doest dwell therein. For it is all one as if GOD did heere auouche his tytle; as when a fyne is set,§40 and any chiefage required, it is to bee layde foorth and declared, that hee which is to receiue the fine is the chiefe Lord, and owner thereof, & that his graunting of it at the first was with such condition. Such is the case heere. For God sheweth that the Iewes enioyed that lande, eyther by right of conquest as gotten by their owne force & power, or by inheritaunce, or by purchase, or by gift of man: to bee short he declareth that they can make no title vnto it §50by any inferiour meane, but that they must looke vp vnto GOD aboue, and say: Our Lorde hath vouchsafed to plant vs in this land which was none of ours: wee cannot say that it belonged vnto vs, our fathers had no right vnto it: whence then doe wee receyue this benefite but of the free gift of our GOD? It behooueth vs therefore at leastwyse to acknowledge this benefite, and to confesse howe greatly wee are bounde and indebted vnto