A17698:1170
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 sith we hear that God requireth that we should love him perfectly with all our heart, with all our mind, and with all our soul: let us be of opinion that he condemneth us utterly, until he have acquit us of his own infinite goodness. But yet for all this, we must pluck up our hearts and quicken up our spirits, sith we see §20that our Lord provoketh us after that fashion. For what maketh us so cold and negligent? It is our bearing of our selves in hand that we be discharged. The cause therefore why men do flatter themselves, is for that they take themselves to be perfect, when they have brought some petty trifles unto God. When we be at that point, let us bethink us how it is said here, Thou shalt love God with all thy heart. If it happen that we be not very disordered in our life, but that we §30have prayed unto God at our uprising in the morning, we have done no man wrong all the day long, we have not played the whoremasters, nor the drunkards, we have not hurt any of our neighbours, we have not conspired any evil, we have not blasphemed God, but we have occupied our selves about some good matters, insomuch as we have endeavoured to do good to such as were in necessity, and laboured to apply our selves to the things that God commandeth,§40 and have done them some service which had need thereof: when night cometh, we think our selves to be little Angels, and that God hath no more to demand of us. That is the cause that cooleth us, and why we serve not GOD so earnestly as were requisite. For we bear our selves in hand, that we be perfect, and we be contented with our selves, and we need nothing else to content us withal, for we be too much inclined to like well of our selves. But behold here §50is wherewith to waken us from such folly, namely, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God. And after what manner? after our own measure? No no: but with all our heart, with all our soul, & with all our strength. And therefore let us look that we search well our thoughts: and in examining of our lives, let us consider what a number of vain and fond fancies have passed us. And if it be alleged, yea but I yielded not to them: very well, diddest thou not conceive any such thought? Will not thy §60God possess thy whole soul? Shall the devil bear rule over thy thoughts, & God in the mean while have nothing to do with them?