A17698:3514
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.
But now let us come unto the order which is observed is this place. Moses with the Priests of the Tribe of Levy, commanded the people saying, Six Tribes shall stand on the Hill of Heball, and six shall stand on the Hill of Garizim. And afterward he saith, Keep my Statutes and Commandments which I command you this day, for ye a•• made a people unto your GOD. This hath been already expounded: but it is good to bear that always in mind which hath been said concerning it; to wit, that GOD speaketh by the mouth of his Priests as if he were there visibly in his own person. And that is to the intent his words should be received with the greater reverence. For when we see but mortal men as we be: we are of opinion that what soever proceedeth from them, may very well be rejected; and if there be no account made ⟨p. 926⟩of it, we think the matter is not great. And thus we see how the word of God is oftentimes little esteemed. For when we see none speak but creatures like unto our selves, we think that that which they pronounce is nothing but a sound of words. But God will have the majesty of his word to be known: & although men bring it, and be the messengers thereof, yet will he not have the worthiness thereof to be diminished, so as men should not give audience §10unto it: but he will have every man to stoop to it and to receive the yoke which he putteth upon them. God therefore speaketh in this place of Moses and by the Priests: but yet in such a language and kind of speech, that he will have people to lift up their minds more higher, and to know that although they be taught by the mean and ministry of man, yet they ought to confess that God is the author of that word which men preach unto them, and that they §20ought to receive it as from God himself & so be silent to hear it, and make no reply or gainsaying against it: for such contempt is not done to a mortal creature, but God himself is despised by it. And therefore let us note well all the places whereby God authoriseth his word, to the intent we may learn to hold our selves unto it and to be ordered thereby: so as every of us do bow down his head, as often as men speak unto us in the name of God. And moreover we §30see also the order which God hath appointed in his Church: he will have all the world to answer Amen: