A17698:4454
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 afterward, That the Law of fire, (or the fire of the law) was in his right hand. §30We see here again the thing which I have declared already; namely that all that ever Moses hath spoken concerning the majesty of God, is done to the end that the Law should not be received as a doctrine devised by Moses; but that we should consider that God avoweth it, and that he hath showed that it proceeded from him. And Moses doeth purposely term it a law of fire, because the air was then all on a flame. The burning of the fire then, was as a mark §40wherewith God sealed his law, as though he had ravished the people, and showed them that they were not any more as upon the earth beneath; but that they were lifted up above the corruptible things of the world. Therefore let us bear well in mind, that the Law is termed Fire, because that by that means GOD made the presence of his majesty the better known. And herewithall let us also mark well what is said concerning the nature of the law §50and of the whole word of God: how it is a consuming fire. For it must needs be answerable to the nature of him from whom it cometh. When the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrews showeth us what the nature of Gods word is,1 after he hath declared that it ransacketh mens hearts, that it sifteth their thoughts and affections, and that it trieth men to the quick: he saith that there is nothing hidden therefrom. And why? For it is Gods will that it should §60have as it were his office. Seeing then that our Lord is termed a consuming fire;2 let us note that his word also must needs be as fire. And that was showed by a visible token, when it was given forth upon Mount Sinai:3 and it behooveth us also to be prepared and ready to receive the same. Moreover we must suffer GOD to purge us and cleanse us by the fire of his word; and if we will not suffer our selves to be so purged; surely God will work after an other fashion towards us, according to this saying of his by his Prophet Isaiah, Is not my word as a consuming fire,