A17698:42
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.
Thus we see in effect, what the ground work of this Book is: that is to wit, that God having erst already given his law to the people of Israel, and warranted it as much as was requisite: vouchsafed because of their hard hartednesse & stubbornness, to give a larger declaration thereof, than Moses had put in writing as yet. And he hath not only opened the meaning of the Law, but also exhorted the people to keep it better than they had done before, upbraiding them with their lewdness in that they had been so unruly and so ill disposed, to receive the instruction of their maker and redeemer at the first time. Now, all the things that we see in this people, belong unto us. And would GOD we resembled not the Jews in any thing, I mean as in these points. But if ever there were too much hardness of heart in them, how much more is it to be found in us nowadays? For our Lord hath spoken more than ⟨p. 3⟩once unto us. If the law were well warranted in the hand of Moses: hath the gospel bin less confirmed unto us in these days? If the earth were shaken then, if the trumpets sounded, if the lightnings flew abroad, if thunderclaps were heard: the Gospel also shaketh both heaven and earth as now, as it is said by the Prophet Haggai, and alleged by the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrews.1 2Also we hear what S. Paul speaketh of it in the third Chapter of the second Epistle §10to the Corinthians.3 The message of life and salvation (saith he) which is contained in the Gospel, must needs be glorified as much or more than the doctrine of the Law, which was dead of it self and could not give men life.
Thus we see in effect, what the ground worke of this Booke is: that is to wit, that God hauing erst alreadie giuen his law to the people of Israel, and warranted it as much as was requisite: vouchsafed because of their hard hartednesse & sturbornesse, to giue a larger declaration therof, than Moses had put in writing as yet. And hee hath not only opened the meaning of the Law, but also exhorted the people to keepe it better than they had done before, vpbraiding them with their lewdnesse in that they had beene so vnrulie and so ill disposed, to receiue the instruction of their maker and redeemer at the first time. Nowe, all the thinges that wee see in this people, belong vnto vs. And would GOD wee resembled not the Iewes in any thing, I meane as in these pointes. But if euer there were too much hardenesse of hearte in them, howe much more is it to bee founde in vs nowadayes? For our Lorde hath spoken more than