A17698:4501
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 as we have seen afore, he calleth Aaron Gods meek one, or rather the man of his pity: & this latter interpretation is the fittest. Ye see then how Aaron was exalted to high dignity. And why? To the intent men should not seek any reason thereof in Aaron's own person, Moses setteth down Gods free goodness aforehand, after which manner we see how saint Paul also speaketh.1 He confesseth that he was sometime a murderer a persecutor, a blasphemer; for he had consented to the shedding of guiltless blood: he was a deadly enemy to the Gospel; he was full of bitterness, full of rage, and he enforced the weaklings to blaspheme the name of God. Now if he were a ravening wolf, was he worthy to be made a shepherd in the Church? Verily he confesseth him self unworthy, yea and that he was the least ⟨p. 1201⟩of all others. But yet in the mean while he shroudeth himself under the grace of God, saying, Paul an Apostle. As how? According to the will of god the father, according to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the everlasting purpose of God. Here he stoppeth the mouths of all such as would enter into contention with him, to abase the dignity of his Apostleship; protesting that it is not grounded upon his own merits, nor gotten by his own §10purchase, and therefore he cannot boast thereof, but that all cometh of God. As much doth Moses here, saying that the Thummim & Urim, of God belonged unto him, because God had chosen him, yea even merely of his own gracious goodness. Although Aaron had never obtained so excellent a state, if God had respect to the things that were in him: yet nevertheless he was placed in the degree of Priesthood. And why so? Because it was Gods good pleasure,§20 and further men must not dispute thereof. And hereby we see that when God giveth his gracious gifts to men to serve him in any honourable office, his so doing is evermore of his own loving kindness, for he is not any whit bound to us. And specially when the case concerneth the preaching of Gods word, who is he that shall be found meet for it (saith Saint Paul)?2 The things are so high that he crieth out, who is he that can be able thereto? There