A17698:4510
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 then, he that will serve God must not forget his father & mother by forbearing to do his natural duty towards them: but he must prefer God before all men, according to this general saying,1 that we cannot be the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, except we hate both father and mother. The word hate is yet somewhat harder than that which is contained here in Moses: but the meaning is not dark at all. For §20our Lord Jesus doth us to understand, that we must make such account of him, that both father & mother must be as nothing in comparison of him, that the husband must leave the love which he beareth to his wife, and the father must set aside the care of his children, that we may keep on our way roundly: insomuch that when the case standeth upon yielding record to the Gospel, and of cleaving to our Lord Jesus Christ, all worldly things must be quite and §30clean wiped out of our hearts. And so we see now the meaning of Moses. And in very deed, the same appeared as well in himself as in his brother Aaron. At such time as the Calf was made and the people had defiled themselves with idolatry, we see with what zeal Moses was carried, and likewise all the tribe of Levy. For he willed every man to take his sword in his hand.2 Let us go (saith he) and sanctify you your hands to the Lord. For in §40so doing ye shall show your selves to be rightly zealous of Gods service, in that ye kill your own brethren without sparing, so as in this case the order of nature be put underfoot, to show that God is above all, and ought to bear chiefest sway. Seeing then that Moses maketh such an execution, that he carieth with him the whole tribe of Levy: we see it is not said in vain that the Priests executed vengeance both on father and mother, that they did shut §50their eyes against all that ever might cool them or restrain them; and that God had so ravished them, as they sought nothing but the maintenance of his honour, and the executing of his vengeance upon such abomination as had bin committed against him for to deface his honour in Israel. Nevertheless we must note that no one deed is spoken of here alone: but Moses meant to show in few words, that God had chosen that tribe, with condition that it should