A17698:6
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.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE Sir Thomas Bromley Knight, Lord Chancellor of England, one of her Majesties most honourable privy Counsel, his singular good Lord, health, prosperity, and increase of Honour.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE Syr Thomas Bromley Knight, Lord Chauncelour of England, one of her Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsell, his singular good Lord, health, prosperitie, and increase of Honour.
Being desirous to testify my dutiful mind towards your good Lordship, I thought there could be no better mean in all respects, than the dedication of this present work; which containeth a large exposition of the whole Law of God, and of the practise thereof in the Commonweal of Israel: whereof the only reading with due consideration, may justly commend it many ways, even to such as are of greatest learning, wisdom, authority and virtue. For if we have an eye to the author of the groundworks thereof; it is God and not man. If to the Lawmaker; it is the Law of the Judge of the whole world, the lamp of light, the wellspring of wisdom, the touchstone of truth, the rule of right, the ground of goodness, the bond of blessedness, the lodestar to life, the opener of our understanding, and the governor of our wits: the faithful following whereof is the way to welfare, the procurer of peace, the path of true pleasure, the entry of immortality, and the harbourer of happiness. Or, if we have an eye to the manner of the delivering thereof; it is most wonderful, accompanied with many great miracles, signs, and tokens, and honoured with the glory and majesty of Gods own presence. If to the intent of the Lawgiver; it is the repairing and reforming of man according to the Image of his maker, in true holiness and righteousness. If to the end of the Law, it is to drive us unto Christ, that by him we might be saved. If to the obedience which it requireth; it is altogether spiritual, holy & everlasting. All which things are not only great, but the greatest that can be, and fuller of majesty and glory than can be expressed or conceived by man. Again, if we have an eye to the party by whose service and ministry this law was published; he was a man peculiarly chosen of God, endued with most excellent gifts, full of the holy Ghost, such a prophet as never had his like, (Christ only excepted) a figure of Christ, familiar with God, a perfect pattern of a good governor, and a very father of his Commonweal. Or if we have an eye to the parties to whom it was delivered; they were a people whom God had purposely chosen, redeemed, and delivered from most miserable thraldom, to the intent to be their King, and to dwell among them, and that they should be unto him a holy people and a royal Priesthood for ever: