A17698:4495
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.
And for what cause was Aaron apparelled after that manner, but to show that in him there was a mirror of Gods glory? Sith it was so, it behooved the people to forget Levies fault, and the punishment thereof which had been laid upon him and his offspring; and to receive Gods Law at the mouth of the Levites, and to have them in estimation, and to honour them as Gods messengers, or §40rather as Angels as they be termed in the Prophet Malachi.1 True it is that Moses was of the same tribe: but yet did God so provide, that the scorners could not allege that he had favoured his own linage or house. And why? Who is he that pronounced that sentence against Levy? Even Moses himself: for it was he that compiled the book of Genesis, wherein he spared not the fault of his own ancestor. For it behoved him to be as Gods notary, to set down §50the sentence both upon Levy and upon all that came of his race. Here then we see that Moses behaved not himself after the manner of men; but executed faithfully the charge that was committed unto him. Again, the high priesthood was not in his own house, though it were in his own tribe. He was a greater man than his brother Aaron, and he had children which might have succeeded in his place. And yet for all that, he made none of them prince of the §60people, he made none of them a governor, neither had they any preeminence above the others: nay, they had not so much as any portion of inheritance, but were fain to be contented with the first fruits, Tithes, and Offerings, after the custom [of the rest] of the tribe of Levy▪ Moses then gave not the High priesthood to his own children, neither took he it to himself. What were Moses his children then, and all his successors? They were but under servants of the meanest in the Temple, and they were fain to serve there, even without being in any degree of honour. God (say I) meant to provide, that Moses should not be subject to any slander. And therefore the things which he speaketh now of the tribe of Levy, are not spoken in respect of his own ancestry: for (as we see) he is not led by fleshly affection, and that doth the very thing it self show, insomuch that all the malicious sort and all the scorners of God must needs have their mouths stopped here, considering his wonderful providence in cutting off occasion of all slander as I said afore.