A17698:4469
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 he addeth afterward, That he was a king among the upright dealers; that is to say, in Israel. This sentence is commonly understood concerning Moses, because he was spoken of in the last verse. For he had said, Moses gave us the Law: and now he addeth, he was a king in Israel. But we know it was not the custom of Moses to call himself king. For the time was not §20yet come wherein God should have chosen and ordained a king to have preeminence. Saul was the first:1 yea and that was through a rebellion of the people. But God chose David, to the intent that the kingdom should be stablished in his person. And until that time, the people were at liberty, and God named himself their king, and called the people a royal priesthood. So then, no doubt but that here Moses continueth the matter which he had begun already; §30namely that the people should sit down at the feet of God to hear his word. He declareth after what manner we should sit down at Gods feet to be his scholars, and that he may be our master, and we be taught at his mouth: It is (saith he) by being our king therewithal. He showeth that whereas God abaseth himself so far as to be our teacher; his so doing ought not to cause us to despise him, or to diminish his majesty: but therewithal he must also be a king.§40 Let us bear in mind then, that the doctrine which we receive of God, is as the speech of a king, and it behoveth us to tremble under him: so as we may not only be as little children that record their lesson under a master; but also that both great and small do come to hear what God speaketh, and give ear unto it with all humility, and that his laws may prevail and have their force amongest us. The thing then in effect which Moses meant in this place, is that §50having showed that God stoopeth so low unto our meanness, that he maketh himself as a schoolmaster, and vouchsafeth to have us sit at his feet, to the intent we should be familiarly taught at his hand; yet ceaseth he not therefore to be a king, and to keep still his dominion and degree, so that what excellency soever be in men, they must not presume to scorn the doctrine that is preached unto them, but even the very kings of the earth ought all of them §60