A17698:3997
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.
The commandment which I ordain for thee this day. In saying, this day, he speaketh of his office. Now his office was to bring the Law and to publish it. It is said in the first of John, that the Law was given by Moses,1 but grace and trueth were given by §50Jesus Christ: It seemeth not then that this can in any way agree with the Gospel. But if we mark it well; we shall find it good reason, that Saint Paul saith, that this point is not verified, until we come throughly to Christ. And why? Let us take Moses to witness without going any further. We have seen here afore, that in forty years space after the setting forth of the Law, the people had profited nothing in it. The reason thereof is this:§60 For thy God hath not given thee an understanding heart,2 even to this day. We have the Law beaten into our ears, and yet in the mean while we are still dulheadded, and conceive not the meaning of Gods speech. This (as I have said afore) proceedeth not of any fault that is in the Law; but of our own wretched blindness: As the Sun is as bright to the blind, as to all other men: but yet they be not able to receive like benefit by the light thereof: Even so standeth the case with us. (Thus much for one point.) Insomuch that as long as God speaketh to us but only by the mouths of men: It is but loss of time. And wherefore? Because we are deaf, we are blind: we are dulheaded; neither is it sufficient for us that the commandment be laid directly before our eyes: that we need not•punc; to mount above the clouds; and that we need not to descend into the deep to seek for it: for it must be in our mouth and in our heart. But how shall we have it in our mouth and in our heart? Soothly even by Gods putting of it there by the grace of his holy spirit. Saint Paul therefore presupposeth this grace to proceed from God peculiarly toward his elect; that he not only offereth himself freely unto them, (which manner of speech Moses also did use when he said, God showeth us his goodness after a special manner:)3 but also imprinteth it in our hearts, making us to understand what he saith, by giving us the spirit of knowledge and discretion: for until God hath so wrought with us, his word lieth still hidden from us. And we hear what he saith by the Prophet Isaiah: