A17698:4446
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 it is added, That he did it a little before his death. The word which he useth, is as much to say, as he did it before his death. So then, by these words, Before his death, is not meant a year or two, no nor yet a month, but at his §10death time, even when he was to die. And these blessings are therefore of so much the more authority. For we know that when a man makes his last will, it shall be better received than the things which he spake during his life. Although then that Moses served God as a Prophet and teacher all his life long, and had discharged his duty faithfully: yet nevertheless his mind was to utter these blessings at the time of his death, to the end they should §20be the better received, and men consider thus: Behold Moses being ready to depart out of the world, hath told us of the things that are to come: he hath not done it at all adventure nor unadvisedly; but he hath fully and wholly performed that which was enjoined him. To the intent therefore that the people should receive those blessings the better; this circumstance is expressly added, That he did it at the hour of his death. But we at this day have a far §30better and more excellent confirmation, in that we be blessed by the mouth of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he hath not only done it at his death, but also hath sealed Gods fatherly love and adoption towards us, I say sealed them with his precious blood, and also with his rising again from the dead. Seeing then that our Lord Jesus Christ hath blessed his disciples, to the end we should know that his office is to do the same to us, and that his Church shall be blessed by his §40power even to the worlds end, and that he hath done it by ratifying it with his own death and passion, and by his rising again to get us victory against the devil, to the intent that all the cursedness which we take as it were by inheritance by reason of our father Adam, should be abolished: seeing that our Lord Jesus Christ hath so ratified all things: let us learn to magnify the fatherly goodness of our God so much the more: and seeing he hath told us that we shall §50be blessed, let us be the better assured thereof by all these circumstances.
Nowe it is added, That he did it a little before his death. The worde which he vseth, is as much to say, as hee did it before his death. So then, by these wordes, Before his death, is not meant a yeare or two, no nor yet a moneth, but at his