A17698:3483
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.
and that they should ratify that which they had before confessed, that is, that they owed all homage unto God for that land, because it was given unto them of his free bestowed goodness, & not gotten by their own power, nor befallen unto them by any kind of chance, or by the gift or help of men.
and that they should ratifie that which they had before confessed, yt is, that they owed al homage vnto God for that land, because it was giuen vnto them of his free bestowed goodnes, & not gottē by their own power, nor befalne vnto them by any kind of chaunce, or by the gift or helpe of men.
But we have to note the manner & fashion of the speech which Moses useth; he saith, That he & the Elders of Israel commanded the people saying, Do that which I command thee. I grant that this might be referred unto Moses, because he was the chief servant of God in publishing of the law; but it is certain that both he & the Elders speak in the name & as it were in the person of God. And yet it would seem at the first blush that this sentence were not well framed. Moses and the Elders say unto the people, Do that which I command thee: but they are many, & yet here is mention made but of one alone. Yea, but (as I have already told you) it was requisite that the Jews should be taught that these things proceeded not from men but from God, who spake by their mouth. We see then that Moses and the Elders come not here in their own persons as attributing any thing to their own worthiness, neither step they forth upon their own heads, nor to charge the people with any laws: but were the instruments of God to deal forth faithfully whatsoever was committed unto them. Now if Moses which was the excellentest of all Prophets (as we shall see hereafter) did nevertheless restrain himself with such modesty,1 that he usurped not the authority to speak any thing in his own name: what shall we say of them which govern the Church nowadays? Will they say that they exceed Moses? Let us note then that Pastor• are not appointed to set forth whatsoever doctrine shall seem good unto themselves, nor to bring mens souls in subjection and bondage to them; nor to make laws and articles of faith at their own pleasure: but only to bring to pass that God may bear rule, and that his word may be harkened unto. Let that be noted for one point. We see then that all the traditions of men which are now adays in the Popedom in stead of the pure word of God are but vain things: and that they must be all beaten down, and that the true government which God liketh of, must be established again