Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of GodSermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God

Forasmuch as the world is hardly kept and retained in subjection under God, let us see how he, for his part, after he had chosen to himself one peculiar people, vouchsafeth to rule them, not for one time only, but so long, and so often, until the people should be well accustomed to the yoke: which order he useth yet daily in his Church. It ought to suffice us, that we had understood of the truth of our God in one simple word: but because we are not so ready to believe, as were requisite, and when we have begun, we decline and fall away in the end, insomuch that we utterly forget that which was taught us: see I say, how he is not contented to have declared unto us for one day, that which appertaineth to our salvation, but calleth the same to our minds continually, and imprinteth it in our hearts as much as is possible. Let us consider to this purpose, how Moses reciteth in this place, that he not only delivered the Law in Horeb, but also that after that he had made his circuit in the wilderness by the space of forty years or there about, he hath again instructed the people, yea, that of all the time he was with them, he never ceased to set before them, that which God had commanded him to publish, ⟨image 5⟩as we have already above touched. And the diligence we here see in Moses, is not superfluous, but to good purpose, when he saith, that being come almost to Jordan, and having discomfited Sehon King of the Amorites, and Og the King of Bashan his neighbour, that he yet putteth them in mind of the statutes and ordinances of God, to the end the people should rest on them, and put them in practise, and that if heretofore they have not been sufficiently instructed, they should at the lest then know the truth of the Lord, wherein they should wholly abide. Thus ye see what Moses meant by this place: and here he purposely placeth together these words: the Law, the Witnesses, the Statutes, the Ordinances, to the end he might more fully express & declare (as we have before showed,) that God hath not instructed his people by halves, or delivered unto them some obscure or short and unperfect doctrine: but that he hath comprised in the Law whatsoever was good and profitable: so that if in it the people would stay them selves, they should not need to be busied in seeking for any thing beside, as being fully and wholly guided and directed by it.

FOrasmuch as the world is hardly kept and reteined in subiection vnder God, let vs see how he, for his part, after he had chosen to himselfe one peculiar people, vouchsafeth to rule them, not for one time onely, but so long, and so often, vntill the people should bee well accustomed to the yoke: whiche order he vseth yet daily in his Church. It ought to suffice vs, that we had vnderstood of the truth of our God in one simple woord: but because we are not so readie to beleeue, as were requisite, and when we haue begonne, we decline and fall away in the end, insomuch that we vtterly forget that which was taught vs: see I say, howe he is not contented to haue declared vnto vs for one day, that whiche apperteineth to our saluation, but calleth the same to our mindes continually, and imprinteth it in our heartes as much as is possible. Let vs consider to this purpose, how Moses reciteth in this place, that he not onely deliuered the Lawe in Horeb, but also that after that he had made his circuite in the wildernesse by the space of fortie yeares or there about, he hath againe instructed the people, yea, that of all the time he was with them, he neuer ceased to set before them, that which God had commaunded him to publish,