A17698:1173
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.
So then let us consider, that Gods making of us so excellent as to have his image printed in us, was not to any other end, than that we should do him homage for them, & by that mean be the more moved to love him, & to keep our selves well from defiling so precious gifts, as reason, will, discretion, & all the rest of the powers of our souls which he hath given us. Thus ye see in effect what we have to remember upon this place.
So then let vs consider, that Gods making of vs so excellent as to haue his image printed in vs, was not to any other end, thā yt we should do him homage for them, & by that meane be ye more moued to loue him, & to keepe our selues well from defiling so precious gifts, as reason, will, discretion, & all ye rest of the powers of our soules which he hath giuē vs. Thus ye se in effect what we haue to remēber vpon this place.
But yet herewithall we must mark also the thing that I have told you heretofore: that is ⟨p. 275⟩to wit, that God will not be served by constraint, but of free love. He could say, Thou shalt honour thy God,1 thou shalt obey thy God, thou shalt fear thy GOD: and so he doeth in other texts, and it is good reason that it should be so: but he speaketh expressly of love. And why? To show that if our serving of him be by constraint, so as we go to it against our wills: though we honour him never so much, and do all that is possible to glorify his name: yet if the §10same proceed not of love, so as our heart yield unto him freely and without gainsaying: he utterly disalloweth it, and such service is not acceptable unto him, for he loveth him that giveth with a free will and pure affection, as saith Saint Paul treating of Almsdeeds.2 Seeing then that God loveth him which giveth with a cheerful courage: thereby he showeth that if a man should spend all his goods, yet should it not boot him at all as to Godward, unless he