A17698:3481
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.
IN yesterdays Lecture Moses having exhorted the people to serve God,§60 declared that the covenant which he had made with them was to their great profit. For the more that God bestoweth on us, the more particularly are we, (if we be not void of all sense and reason) bound to give our selves over wholly unto him. But yet for all that, though we see that God is so liberal towards us, are we moved to offer our selves in obedience unto him? [Noah verily]. For this cause Moses said unto the Jews: that they were chosen to be in praise, in name, and in glory, as people shouled out from the rest of the world unto God. Whereas some expound this, that they were in praise & glory, to the end that God might ⟨p. 917⟩be glorified: it is a hard & forced exposition. The thing they say is in deed true in it self, as it is said often times in the holy scripture, that God had chosen this people for his own name, as the end whereunto he hath created all things. And the church was builded specially to the intent that the name of God should be exalted, as it is said in the Prophet Isaiah:1 & as S. Paul also leadeth us unto the same consideration in the first Chapter to the Ephesians, where he treateth of that thing §10more at large. Therefore it is true in it self that God adopted the Jews to the intent that they might know his exceeding favour & goodness, & that the glory which was due unto him therefore might be yielded unto him. But in this place Moses had an eye unto that which we have already touched, to wit, that the people might be the more moved & inflamed to discharge their duties, because God hath called them for none other reason, but to utter forth the infinite treasures of his mercies.§20 And therefore he saith: Thy God hath placed thee this day in honour & in renown, & in glory, according to this which hath bin said afore in the fourth Chapter, What nation is so noble and of such dignity,2 which hath his God so near unto him, as thy God hath made himself familiar unto thee, to govern thee? This then was a dignity which God had vouchsafed upon the Jews above the rest of all the world. And it ought to have bin a cause to stir them up so much the