A17698:3991
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.
Heretofore in the last Chapter, Moses had put a difference betwixt Gods secrets and the law,1 saying that if we be learned in Gods word, we shall always find such doctrine as is behovefull §30for our selves and for our children. And in the same place he protested, that God speaketh not in such dark manner, as men cannot understand what he meaneth: but that he expresseth his will faithfully, to the end they should have good and convenient instruction to their salvation. Now continuing his purpose, he •aith farther, that the Law which he had declared, is not a secret doctrine, nor far distant from the people, so as they might reply, saying:§40 Who is he that shall pass over the sea? or who is he that shall mount up above the clouds? No, saith he, the word is set down before thine eyes, thou hast it in thy mouth and in thy heart: and so is there no place at all of excuse through ignorance: wherefore turn that grace to your profit; otherwise there is nought else to be looked for, but dreadful condemnation before God upon all them that continue in their blindness; for here is that true §50light which should guide us in all the course of our life. We see what Moses meant in this Text; even to exhort them to whom he had delivered the Law, to be attentive to the same. Now for that purpose, he promiseth them that in so doing, they should not spend their time in vain, but that if they would apply their study to be edified in the word of God, they should find sufficient for that purpose. On the contrary side, he pronounceth a terrible threatening §60against all them that go about to shield themselves with ignorance. For there remaineth no more excuse after that GOD hath spoken. If this were said in the time of the Law: how much more conveniently may it be said to us of these days? For we are not ignorant that God hath showed himself unto us more familiarly, than to them to whom Moses spake: they had only that which remaineth unto us to this day. But since that time, God sent his Prophets, which have more largely expounded the things, that were briefly and darkly mentioned in the law. After all this, the Lord Christ our saviour is come into the world, and hath accomplished that which was spoken by the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrews: