A17698:599
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.
Moses addeth thereunto, that at the same time God published his covenant which he had made afore, and commanded Moses to bring them the ten articles in two tables, charging him to teach the people his laws and judgements, that they might do them. Hereby we see again that which I have touched heretofore: that is to wit, that God will not have his doctrine to be as a dead thing, but to be of power to reform us, so that whereas §30naturally we be froward and given to all naughtiness, we must be subject to him in such wise as his righteousness may reign in us. To that intent was the law set forth. True it is that the law being written in two tables of stone, could not be kept unless God subdued the hardness of mens hearts by his holy spirit: and therefore it served as a figure to show that the law ought to be written in mens hearts,1 though they be never so hard.2 Those stones then were §40as an image of our hearts. For as God avoweth by his prophet) we have such a hardness in us, as he can never bow us till we be softened. Nevertheless like as he engraved his law in the stones: so also doeth he print the same in us when it pleaseth him to touch us by his holy spirit. And this was done at the same time that the law was put forth. And here ye see why comparison is made between the Gospel and the law. God told the people how it §50behoved them to know themselves, for such as they were in deed, that is to wit that they were hardened in naughtiness,3 stubborn, and full of all corruption, so as there was no concord nor agreement between the thoughts and affections of them, and the righteousness of himself. And for proof thereof, let us mark that there are two things betokened by that which Moses rehearseth here. The one is the goodness that GOD hath showed in setting forth his law. For it is §60not enough for men to be taught: that will not boot them until such time as he subdue them. We may have our ears beaten long enough with the doctrine of the Law, but we shall continue still given to our own naughtiness: and therefore it shall be but labour lost and misspent to preach Gods word unto us. And why? For it will slip out again, and so shall we continue always like our selves. That is one thing that is betokened unto us.