A17698:4249
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.
And here Moses setteth not down singly the word God, but sayeth, The God which begat thee, the mighty one which shaped thee. Here Moses telleth the people of Israel, that they had good cause to hold him for their God, if they had not quite and clean forgotten the gracious goodness which they had erst found in him by experience. And that is a thing well §20worthy to be weighed. For it is Gods will not only to be known in his being or in his name, but also to show himself to us by his deeds, so as we have true records of his power, goodness, mercy, and justice. Seeing then that God hath so showed himself to us, what is our unthankfulness if we know him not? Is it not too shameful? Therefore we must always consider, that God hath caused it to be declared unto us, not only that it is he §30whom we ought to fear, and to whom we ought to be subject without any further proof, but also that therewithal it is he that hath begotten us. And this is to be marked yet better of us, than it was of the men of old time under the law. For we have our Lord Jesus Christ the only son, into whose body we be grafted that we may become the sons of God. Therefore the body of the tree and root of our adoption, is that we be made §40the brethren of our Lord Jesus Christ. For being begotten of God, we be nourished and sustained by the doctrine of his Gospel. Now if we consider what we were before, namely, the children of Adam and heirs of everlasting cursedness: and also if we have an eye to those whom God suffereth to run into destruction, it will yield the greater glory to the favour which he showeth us. Seeing then that God doeth now draw us to him to §50be his own, and to be of his household, shall we fling away from him? Shall we rather follow idols which we are not acquainted with? We see then as now, that whereas Moses doeth so grievously blame the children of Israel, he doeth it not without cause, considering the experience which they had had of Gods goodness, power and justice, and yet that they had made no reckoning of it.
And heere Moses setteth not downe singly the worde God, but sayeth, The God which begate thee, the mightie one which shaped thee. Here Moses telleth the people of Israell, that they had good cause to holde him for their God, if they had not quyte and cleane forgotten the gracious goodnesse which they had earst founde in him by experience. And that is a thing well