A17698:4680
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.
Although God raised up great prophets after the decease of Moses, yea and such as speak more loftily that he; (as in Isaiah we see a doctrine which at the first sight seemeth more stately than the doctrine that is contained in Moses:) yet notwithstanding it is certain that Isaiah was but §10an expounder of the Law, and that the things which he wrote were but dependents thereof, so as he and all the rest drew light at the things which had been taught afore by Moses. And therefore (as I have declared already) it behoved the people to have a continual regard of the Law that was given unto them, that they might never forget it. And although our Lord had so well provided for it; yet we see how negligent they were.1 It is a horrible thing that the §20Law should be lost, as we know it was found again in the time of Josiah. And yet it was a treasure which God had committed to the custody of the Priests, there was a tribe chosen to that purpose, as who should say, keep ye well the Law that it perish not.2 The people (as we have seen heretofore) were warned to have the laws written upon the posts of their houses, to write them upon tables about their beds, to carry them about upon their hands, and to wear §30them as bracelets about their arms. Whereas other people have Jewels to deck them withal, you (saith God) shall evermore have my Law before our eyes, that ye may never for go the remembrance thereof. Yet for all this, the people forgot it, whereby we see how needful it was that the authority of Moses should be so magnified, to the intent that the Law might abide unimpeached. And that is showed us by the prophet Malachi where he saith,3 Remember §40the Law of Moses that was given you in Oreb. After that manner speaks Malachi to the people, telling them that they should be destitute of prophets. For he was the last from that time forth to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. There was not after him any prophet, there was a horrible desolation. Notwithstanding, to the end that the people should not fall away, and forsake the covenant of God: Malachi sendeth them back to the Law of Moses; as if he should say. All the teaching that ye have had, tended to none other end but that ye should abide under the Law of God. And was it of necessity that Moses should abide in his state for the doing thereof?