A17698:4407
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.
It was not a trifling matter, that the people came to the temple to offer sacrifices: but it was a sure president that God received them to mercy; in so much that when the blood of any beast was there shed, it was a figure which ought to lead them up to a higher thing. For there was always a heavenly pattern which Moses had seen upon the Mount.1 So then, let us not think as the Papists do, that Moses upholdeth §60here the Freewill of men, of purpose, therewithal to set forth their deservings, as though men could by their own power and policy obtain Paradise, and were able to serve GOD and to do the commandments of the Law: Moses went not that way to work: but he knew what promise had been made to the people, and that all things tended to the Covenant which GOD had made with them, notwithstanding that the time of the full opening thereof was not yet come as it was promised afterward by Jeremiah,2 Isaiah, and all the rest of the Prophets, where it is said that GOD would make a new Covenant with his people, which was that he would write his Law in their hearts, and change their stony hearts into hearts of flesh. True it is that this belongeth to the Gospel: nevertheless, it was figured also under the Law, and the fathers that lived in those days, had some taste thereof so far as was expedient for them.
It was not a trifling matter, that the people came to the temple to offer sacrifices: but it was a sure president that God receyued them to mercie; in so much that when the bloud of any beast was there shed, it was a figure which ought to leade them vp to a higher thing. For there was alwayes a heauenly patterne which Moses had seene vppon the Mount.1 So then, let vs not thinke as the Papistes doe, that Moses vpholdeth §60heere the Freewill of men, of purpose, therewithall to set foorth their deseruinges, as though men coulde by their owne power and pollicie obtayne Paradise, and were able to serue GOD and to doe the commaundements of the Law: Moses went not that way to worke: but hee knewe what promyse had beene made to the people, and that all thinges tended to the Couenaunt which GOD had made with them, notwithstanding that the time of the full opening thereof was not yet come as it was promysed afterwarde by Ieremie,