A17698:4452
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.
Some have taken this for the children of Israel as that God came thither with them. And they call them Saints, because God had shouled them out to himself,1 notwithstanding that the greater number of them was wicked and unholy. But there is no reason in that, that so great a multitude as seven hundred thousand men or thereabouts, should be termed ten thousand. No doubt therefore but Moses speaketh here of Angels. And truly when the holy scripture intendeth to set Gods majesty before our eyes; it doth always ad yt he is guarded with his heavenly hosts, and that he hath his angels with him, which are thousands of thousands. For we must not stand altogether upon the certain number, because the scripture speaketh sparely of the things that are invisible. And so a number certain shall be put for an infinite number, as if it had bin said that God appeared even with his heavenly Angels which served to testify his glory the better. True it is that if the majesty of God be set single before us, it ought well to suffice us: and in good sooth, can the creatures ad any thing unto it? No surely: but that is spoken for our infirmities sake. For when God saith, Here am I; it toucheth us not yet sufficiently, and therefore it behoveth him to set himself forth as in his sovereignty, & to show by his angels that he hath a dreadful dominion, & that he hath his virtues & powers shed forth everywhere. For we know that his Angels are created to execute whatsoever he hath ordained;2 so that they be as his hands, whereby he worketh and performeth whatsoever he listeth. To that end then doth Moses expressly say, that God appeared here, even with a ten thousand of Saints. And we see also how the law was given by the hands of Angels, as S. Stephen declareth in the seventh of the Acts.3 Likewise when S. Paul in the Epistle to the Galatians, intendeth to show that God appeared to authorise his law the better; he setteth down that the Angels were witnesses thereunto. Were there then ten thousand witnesses present at the publishing of the law? What a thing is it then, if men believe it not, ne receive it not without gainsaying? If a bargain be passed before three witnesses, and signed by a Notary: it is of authority, and there is no pleading against it. And how was the law given?