A17698:4497
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.
But now let us lay forth the whole by piecemeal. He saith first of all, Thy Thummim & thy Urim. I have told you already that these two words betoken Gods perfections, and his lights or doctrines. Now in effect we be done to understand here, that Aaron's apparel was no vain thing; it was not an attire to give a glittering show to mens eyes: but God intended to figure a greater and more excellent thing thereby; which is, that the Priest should not be as a common man, but should have in him things which could not be comprehended. And in very deed, his bearing of Gods essential name in his Mitre,1 served to show that he surmounted all the world and all the creatures therein. There was in his Mitre, The Everlasting: and that name agreed to none but to God himself. Needs then must it be, that the high priest was a figure of our Lord Jesus Christ,2 who is God manifested in flesh. God therefore intended to show, that none of all the Ceremonies of the Law, were as toys for babes to play withal like the trash of the Papists, who have a great sort of pelting gewgaws, and in all their Ceremonies do nothing but make as it were may games or stage plays; after which manner the heathen folk also have store of murlymewes and trifles, and yet all is but a hotchpotch. And why? For there is no doctrine, there is nothing but dazzling of mens eyes, it cannot be said upon knowledge that God hath commanded them, or that he hath appointed them to such end or such use. I grant that the Papists contrive good store of gay things in their Mass, as who would say, this figureth such a thing, and this such a thing. And yet for all that, all is but leasing: for they have forged them of their own heads. But God had as it were his lamp lighted in all the Ceremonies ⟨p. 1200⟩of the Law, to the intent that the people should be furthered by the help of them: insomuch that they knew wherefore Aaron's Brestlap was named Rightfulness, and why these parts [of Thummim and Urim.] were named Perfections and lights. It was to do us to wit, that God took no pleasure in outward things; for he is not like men, which are ravished with the outward appearance and gay show of things. God hath no such thing in his nature. But by those §10Ceremonies, he meant to betoken far greater things, until the trueth of them appeared in Jesus Christ.