A17698:798
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.
but as concerning the substance of it, & the doctrine that is contained in it, it keepeth his force for ever and never decayeth. Now §30let us mark that although we were not in the time of Moses, yet is it not for us to despise the the things that are reported to have bin done [at that time,] or which are contained in the law. And why? For he spake them to us. He spake not only to the multitude that was assembled at mount Horeb: but also generally to the whole world. Now if this be verified of the law: much more reason is it that it should be so of the Gospel. For as I said, the law, as §40concerning the shadows and figures, is gone to decay: but in the Gospel there is no such like thing. For here our Lord maketh his new and everlasting covenant:1 it is a covenant that endureth from age to age [without ceasing.] What is to be done then, when the Gospel is preached? We must assure our selves that the Son of GOD is come into the world: not only to teach those with whom he was conversant when he was a mortal man:2 but also to purchase §50them unto God his father,3 and to call the world to salvation, by giving his Apostles commission to sound forth their voices through the whole world,4 that even those might be made partakers of his doctrine which never heard them: which doctrine we also must receive still at this day, as if Jesus Christ himself were still among us, or as if the Apostles spake to us with their own mouths. That (say I) is the thing which we have to remember upon this place. And §60therefore let us not make any alteration in Gods Church, or attempt to innovate any thing in his word, forasmuch as we know that he will have it to hold on continually in one equal course and train. For seeing he hath given us his Gospel, and stablished a certain government in the time of the Apostles and in the primitive Church: it behoveth us to come to the same, and to stay there. If we do otherwise it is all one as if we would make Gods word mortal and corruptible as we our selves are. Wherefore let us learn, that although the world be variable, so as there be turns and returns every day, and there is not any of us all which hath not a number of opinions running in his head: yet must we not look to have the liberty to do now one thing and now another. Why so?