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

We see then what we may gather upon this sentence, even as much as if Moses should have said unto the people, Beloved, acknowledge we the benefit the Lord bestoweth on us this day, even such an one as our fathers have received none the like: for he delivered not unto them the law by writing, as unto us, he hath not declared to them these things in such plain order. True it is, that he did sufficiently instruct them, & as much as was necessary & requisite for their salvation- but here is yet an higher degree & further steppe, to which we are come at this day, and therefore we ought to draw so much the nearer to him, seeing we see that he hath so stooped unto us. And this is the meaning of Moses, if we understand the place in this sense. As if a man should say at this day, that God hath not done so to our fathers, as he hath done unto us. And this is that which Christ said to his disciples,¹ That many Kings and Prophets have desired to see those things which you see,² & hear those things preached which you hear, and yet have not had their desire. Seeing then it is so, that God of his infinite mercy & goodness vouchsafeth to prefer us before the Patriarchs and Prophets, (as it is also said, that the Prophets served not so much their own time as ours,) we ought with greater diligence to suffer our selves to be taught under him,³ & to apply our selves wholly to his doctrine. Notwithstanding, when all is well considered, although this we have alleged be profitable, and the exhortation is often brought in holy Scripture, yet when we shall have weighed all the words, we shall find that Moses, when he saith that God did not make his covenant with them which heard the law the first day it was published, meaneth ⟨image 10⟩to say, that not only with them he made his covenant, but also with those which over lived them, and succeeded in the place of those which were dead. So that in few words Moses would here declare, that the law was not transitory, to endure only for the life of them which first heard it, but that it was a doctrine which should retain his strength & authority forever.

We see then what we may gather vpon this sentence, euen as much as if Moses should haue said vnto the people, Beloued, acknowlege we the benefite the Lord bestoweth on vs this day, euen such an one as our fathers haue receiued none the like: for he deliuered not vnto them the lawe by writing, as vnto vs, he hath not declared to them these thinges in such plaine order. True it is, that he did sufficiently instruct them, & as much as was necessarie & requisite for their saluation- but here is yet an higher degree & further steppe, to which we are come at this day, and therefore wee ought to drawe so much the neerer to him, seeing we see that he hath so stooped vnto vs. And this is the meaning of Moses, if we vnderstand the place in this sense. As if a man shoulde say at this day, that God hath not done so to our fathers, as he hath done vnto vs. And this is that which Christ said to his disciples,