A17698:3638
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 it is also said, That God will make them the head and not the tail, namely them that endeavour to serve him: he will set them above, and not beneath. This is as it were the top of all prosperity. Now surely it was more behoovefull (as it was treated of yesterday) that the old fathers under the law, should have moe promises concerning the transitory life, than we have. For they had not such opening of the heavenly life as is given us in the Gospel. Therefore it was Gods will to draw them after that fashion like little children. For inasmuch as an infant is not of capacity to understand the goodness of his father: therefore to encourage him, he will say unto him; I will give thee a trim cap, and I will buy thee a gay new cote: this is agreeable to the capacity of the child, and because his heart is tender, such talk is used unto him: bowbeit the father meaneth to lead him on farther. Even so did God deal with the old fathers: He did set forth his benefits which they should enjoy in this world: meaning to draw them from thence to a higher hope, namely, to the hope of the heavenly heritage. And so the Jews were made as a head when the kingdom flourished amongest them, when they overcame ⟨p. 960⟩their enemies, and when God showed himself to fight for them. As nowadays we must not look to have either kingdoms or principalities as they had; neither have we in like manner the temporal kingdom of David: it is sufficient for us that Jesus Christ is given us, and that we reign with him, and that he being our king, causeth us to flourish under his conduction: I say it ought to suffice us, that we be a kingly Priesthood under our head;1 which is the son of GOD §10Nevertheless, our Lord hath made promise to all the faithful, that if they walk in his obedience, they shall not be oppressed by the tyranny of men, but be maintained in liberty, which is also a blessing as much to be desired as any can be in this world. Knowing therefore that this is a special gift of God, as it is here showed, let us learn to serve him and to give him the whole authority over us: that by his governing of us, we may be set free from bondage of §20men. We shall see hereafter in this present Chapter,2