A17698:37
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.
When GOD caused his law to be published in mount Horeb, after his conveying of the people out of the thraldom §10of Egypt, there by he showed to what end and purpose he had had pity of his people in delivering them: that is to wit, to be glorified thereby, as the mark whereunto we also must refer all the gracious gifts which he bestoweth upon us. Zechariah the father of S. John Baptist, speaking of the great and sovereign deliverance that was made in the §20person of our Lord Jesus Christ,1 saith, that Gods discharging of us from the hand and tyranny of our enemies, was to the end what we should serve him in holiness and righteousness all our life long. And this is a doctrine very common throughout the whole holy scripture. And for the same cause also is it said by the prophet Isaiah,2 that God hath created a people to set forth his praise. Seeing then that the Law was given to the people, to make them perceive §30why they had bin delivered from the bondage of Egypt: it was good reason that they should yield themselves to the obeying of God, which had showed himself their redeemer in such wise. Nevertheless the people were untoward, and could not find in their hearts to yield themselves pliable, in hearkening to the things that were told them in the name of their God. Yet ought they of right to have done it, seeing they had received so great & so inestimable a benefit. For God had uttered the mighty strength of his arm in delivering the people. Therefore ought they to have considered thus: Behold, our God hath magnified himself towards us after a wonderful fashion, we have had as it were a visible presence of his majesty, if the heavens had opened and God had showed himself to our eyes, we should not have had a greater and more undoubted assurance of his nearness unto us, to warrant us that he was our leader. Seeing then that God is so come down unto us, and that it hath pleased him to impart his goodness in such wise unto us: is it not reason that we should be wholly his? And seeing he hath reached out his hand to redeem us, ought we not to be his heritage, inasmuch as he hath gotten us by his own mighty power? Had the people had one drop of wisdom, they should have yielded themselves with all humility, to receive the doctrine that was preached to them by Moses.