A17698:1167
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.
Now remaineth the practising of this doctrine, that is to say, to know how we should put it in effect and execution. And let us mark first of all, how this only one text showeth us sufficiently, that Gods law passeth all our abilities, so as it is not possible for us to fulfil it, & to discharge ourselves of it, or of the hundred part of it, as long as we live here beneath. For why? do we §40know God throughly as we ought to do? No no, we come far short of it. Then is it impossible for us to love him with all our strength and with all our affections: for knowledge goeth before love. If our knowing of God be but in part, so as we be wrapped as yet in much darkness: our loving of God must also be weak likewise. Moreover we see what the fondness of our mind is: for in stead of seeking heavenly things, we look always downward. And §50if we be desirous but so much as to lift up our head: we must be fain to strive and to go to it by main force, and yet we return still to our own nature. How fickle are our desires? and how fight they one against another? So as men are tossed and turmoiled without end or measure, and have no rest at all, but are tormented with unquietness, of ambition on the one side, and of covetousness on the other. Again they would fain live at ease and in pleasure,§60 and they would fain be had in honour and estimation. Finally they be cumbered with fleshly lusts and such other like things. Hereby then it appeareth enough and too much, that we come far short of loving God with all our heart, and of giving our selves wholly over unto him, as we be commanded here. And so let us mark, that the righteousness of the Law respecteth not what men can do, but what they ought to do. We be bound to love our GOD with all our heart, with all our mind, and with all our soul. Although we have no such perfection in us as to come any thing near it, yet notwithstanding we be bound unto it. If any man say, How so? why should God require more of us than we be able to perform? we must consider from whence the mischief springeth: namely even from our own fault. The original sin that is in us is the cause thereof, so as we take it by birth. And is it meet that because we be naughty and froward, therefore God should be bereft of his service and lose his right? No.
Now remaineth the practising of this doctrine, that is to say, to knowe how wee should put it in effect and execution. And let vs marke first of all, how this onely one text sheweth vs sufficiently, that Gods law passeth al our abilities, so as it is not possible for vs to fulfill it, & to discharge ourselues of it, or of the hundreth part of it, as long as wee liue here beneath. For why? doe we