A17698:67
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.
thereby he doth us to understand, that seeing he hath delivered us from the dungeon of death, and from the bondage of the devil and of sin: we shall have him to be our guide for ever, so we hearken to his voice, and doubt not but he thinketh upon us and will continually lead us still.
thereby he doth vs to vnderstand, that seeing he hath deliuered vs from the dungeon of death, and from the bondage of the diuell and of sinne: we shall haue him to be our guide for euer, so we hearken to his voyce, and doubt not but he thinketh vpon vs and will continually leade vs still.
Moreover he sayeth, Let the people turn and draw towards the hill of the Amorites, & from thence invade and possess the land of Canaan, whether it be the plain Countries, or the downs, or the deserts, or the seacoasts: for the land (sayeth he) is before you: that is to say at your commandment, I have delivered it into your hands, nothing shall keep ye from the possession of it, if it be not long of your selves. Why so? For I have sworn (sayeth he) to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: I have promised to give it for an inheritance to them and to their seed after their decease. Here first of all we must mark the order that is set down: for God showeth the cause why he gave that people the land [of Canaan:] namely for his promise sake. And thereby he betokeneth, that the land belonged not to them as by way of conquest through their own power, nor yet for any desert of theirs, but only of free gift. God then assigneth this title to the children of Israel, and telleth them that they shall be as much bound to his mere goodness when they be brought into the land of Canaan, [as they were before.] And in deed the oath that Moses speaks of here, was made four hundred and thirty years afore, even in the person of Abraham, before any of them was borne. Seeing then that GOD had promised them the land, even before they had done either good or evil, and before they were borne: it may be concluded thereupon, that their possessing of it was not for any worthiness of theirs, as though God had been beholden to them for some service: but because he had made them heirs of it, through his own free goodness. Now if this be verified of the earthly heritage which the children of Israel had: what is to be said of the kingdom of heaven? Are we able to compass it? Can we deserve at Gods hand to be partakers thereof? No: but contrariwise, it is of his mere goodness that we be brought in thither, and shall have fruition of it at the last day: for surely all that is spoken of the land of Canaan, must serve us for a figure and shadow.