A17698:1147
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.
And herewithall let us mark also, that if God had covenanted a thousand times with us to reward our works: yet could we so little say that he owed us any thing, as he might rather curse and abhor us. For which of us performeth his Law as we ought to do? If we do one point, we fail in a hundred: and when we think ⟨p. 268⟩we do the things that God commandeth us in his Law: we do but drag our legs, and there is always much imperfection in us, so as we can never run as were requisite. therefore we should be cursed and damned, if God listed to judge us with rigour. Then is it not for men to vaunt themselves in this behalf of the obtaining of any reward for deserts sake, or to boast of their works. But rather they must understand that all the promises which God hath given in §10his Law, import a condition, and therefore that they should not boot us at all, because none of us dischargeth his duty, if God did not accept us & bear with us of his own mere goodness. And hereby we see how mad the papists are to boast of their merits, so as it seemeth to them that they have to bargain with God, and thereupon enter boldly into account with him through devilish malapertness, bearing themselves in hand that God is greatly bound unto them. And for §20what manner of dealings? They allege their satisfactions, their works, and their merits. And where shall a man find these merits? O (say they) we have done this and that: and therefore we need not stick to enter into account with God. But on the contrary part, God requireth here that we should serve him throughly in all respects: which thing we can not do as we have seen heretofore, and as is declared in many other places.1 For let all the world examine §30themselves, and see if ever there were any one that performed the Law. Nay, so far off is that to be found, that there is none which may protest that he hath done the hundred part of it. Therefore all must needs confess themselves to be accursed. Besides this, even in that little portion which men can bring, how small so ever it be, there is always some default and blot: by reason whereof God might well refuse it and abhor it. Now then let men continue §40