A17698:797
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.
Howbeit if all things be well considered: although the matter before rehearsed be very profitable, and that the same exhortation be oftentimes made in the holy scripture: yet if all the words be well weighed, Moses meant that God made not his covenant with those that had heard the Law at the first giving of it forth, that is to say, not only with them: but also with those that outlived them, and succeeded in their place after their decease. So to be short, Moses intended to show here, that the Law was not mortal, to continue only during the lives of such as had the first hearing of it: but that it was a doctrine which should continue in force and authority for ever. The Lord our God (saith he) made not his covenant with our fathers: that is to say, he meant not that only our fathers should be his people, and so to bind himself in such sort unto them, that his law should serve but for a forty or fifty years: but he hath made his covenant likewise with us, and with those that were yet unborn when the law was ⟨p. 181⟩given forth. Although then that ye were not at mount Horeb, ne saw the fire upon the hill: yet notwithstanding assure your selves that your God did adopt you at the same time unto himself, and comprised you likewise in the covenant that he made. Therefore it behooveth you to keep his law, because it was set forth to last for ever, and to continue from age to age, and to be preached unto the worlds end. That is the true and proper meaning of Moses. And §10hereof we may gather a good lesson: which is, that although we were not at the first setting abroad of the Gospel, nor saw the things that are reported to us of the law: yet must not Gods word forgo his authority with us. And why? True it is that Gods raising up of Moses was a special prerogative to the people that lived in that time: but yet must not the authority of the Law be impeached for all that: for it containeth Gods trueth, which endureth for ever, and §20is not variable nor transitory after the manner of men. It is said that men are like a flower or as the grass that withereth and dryeth away out of hand:1 but Gods trueth endureth for ever. And this trueth which is unchangeable and unvariable, is contained in the Law. True it is that the Law as concerning the ceremonies is quite abolished: