A17698:3719
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.
Moreover, where Moses sayeth, That GOD §60will thus disperse his people: it serveth still to confirm his matter, to the end that the Jews, should not think that they were carried away by a storm, as it were by hap hazard; but that they should understand that it is the hand of GOD that is upon them: and that forasmuch as this threatening prevailed not with them, therefore the thing that is happened unto them should stand us in some stead. For look what vengeance we hear GOD speak of in this place; the same we see executed before our eyes. Is it not a horrible thing that the Jews be abhorred at this day throughout the whole world? Yet were they the people whom GOD had sanctified for himself, they were his heritage, they were the royal priesthood, according as they be termed in Exodus,1 and they were the blessed Generation, and yet for all this, they be rejected of all men, insomuch that men do as it were shudder to behold them as though they ought to be cut off from mankind. If it be said, O this may very well happen to the faithful, and the like befell even to the holy Patriarchs; it did so in deed, howbeit after an other sort. For the faithful may well be put in fear, according as it is said in the prophet Isaiah,2 that folk shall point at them with the finger, and shun them afar off: and that is because GOD is not known, and his grace is despised. But whereas we speak of the Jews at this day, it is very well seen that God is against them: for they be as rotten members, and their body is torn in pieces, and there remaineth not any token of this blessing which God had bestowed on them. Therefore when we behold such a looking glass, let us learn to make our commodity thereof, and let the example of them serve to seal this doctrine and to ratify it, that we tempt not GOD, and that we continue not hardhearted so long till he be fain to wrap us up in reproach with all the rest of the nations of the world. After this, Moses returneth to that which he had touched afore:3 which is, That the people having tilled their grounds and their possessions, shall not drink of the wine of their grapes, nor eat of the corn of their harvest, nor enjoy the fruits of their trees. This hath been spoken afore: but there is here a certain difference to be noted.