A17698:3928
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 Moses doeth here expressly accuse the Jews, to the intent to take away from them all starting holes; saying: They forgot the God of their fathers & him that had delivered them out of the land of Egypt, and set them free from that hard bondage. By saying, The GOD of their fathers, he meaneth that they were revolted without cause. Which complaint the Prophet Jeremiah doeth also use.1 Go (saith he) over the sea, go throughout all the countries of the world, see how constant the heathen are, they change not their Gods, & yet they be but Idols; men did devise of their own fancies, that such a religion was to be had, & they stick to it, showing great constancy & steadfastness, albeit that it have no foundation. But I am the true God, & you have known me to be so by experience, & yet notwithstanding you be evermore fickle to have some novelty, you cannot be stayed nor restrained in my service: & is not it to great an unthankfulness? So them Moses telleth them here, that they have forsaken the God of their fathers. Yet notwithstanding, it is not to be inferred hereupon, that because our fathers have held some evil trade of life, therefore we must follow the same, for the Papists & Turks have that defence common amongst them, namely, that it is now a long while since they have behaved themselves after that manner. The Turks say: What? It is eight hundred years ago since that Mahomet brought us to his law, and it hath bin kept ever since, our fathers have delivered it unto us from hand to hand. The Papists also do allege their holy Councils; and the Traditions of ancient laws: but (as I have already touched) it is not enough for us that our fathers have delivered us such a religion as they thought good. But Moseses speaking here of fathers, doeth separate Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from the world, because God did sanctify them. Those be the fathers that deserved to be of dignity and reputation above worldly men: for God did ordain them to be followed that other men might become like unto them. That is the thing which Moses regarded.2 For in deed we see that Ezekiel blamed the people for following the laws and righteousness of their fathers: it might seem at the first show, that here is some contrariety. God on the one side condemneth the Jews, for that they followed not their fathers;
Now Moses doeth here expressely accuse the Iewes, to ye intent to take away from thē al startingholes; saying: They forgot the God of their fathers & him that had deliuered them out of the land of Egypt, and set them free from that hard bondage. By saying, The GOD of their fathers, he meaneth that they were reuolted without cause. Which complaynt the Prophete Ieremie doeth also vse.