A17698:4060
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 as touching that which Moses saith further, That he commandeth the children of Israel, that on the solemn day at the feast of the Tabernacles at the end of every seven year, the law should be recited to all the people: it is not meant that God would not have the Jews taught it daily: but it was yet a straiter band, & the keeping that solemnity, (as we have seen heretofore where we treated of the covenant made by Moses) was not to the intent that the people should [at other times] be unmindful of the law,1 but to the intent they should be the deepelyer touched therewith, & have it the better ratified after a solemn manner. That is the very meaning of this place. Every year, yea at every feast or solemnity, the people coming to the temple were to be taught in deed. The sacrifices were not to be done as a vain pomp; but in such sort as men might know the end & use of them, so as every body might understand what God he served, & be put in mind of the covenant which he had made with their fathers. But yet herewithall, besides all this, God did moreover ad a larger confirmation thereof, by renewing the remembrance thereof at the end of seven years, as it were by the solemn taking of a new oath, to the end that it should not vanish away. Let us understand then, that when men had exercised themselves from day to day, and from month to month, & had all their life long studied in the law of God, & bin taught his will; yet this ceremony was nevertheless observed, that they did read all the contents of the law that the people might consider thus with themselves; ⟨p. 1081⟩This is not a treasure that may at any time perish from among us, God hath not given it for a time: but it is for us & for our children for evermore, as we have seen in the 29. chap. Seeing it is so, let us take heed that we continue the possession thereof among us,2 & that through our own recklessness we be not defeated of so inestimable a benefit, which ought to be preferred above all the riches & delectable things of this world. Now whereas he speaketh of the feast, it is said, At such time as all Israel shall §10be assembled together in the presence of his god. We have heretofore often times treated of this manner of speaking, & it is now needless to stand long upon it.