A17698:1174
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.
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 §20have a delight in well doing. And why? Because God hath commanded it, and we ought above all things to desire that he be glorified, that his righteousness be obeyed, that he be exalted at our hands, that he reign over us, and that we be his people in very deed. Ye see then that the chief joy which we should have to incline us to do well, is a hearty and free affection. And that is the cause why the word Love was plainly set down in this text.
But yet herewithall wee must marke also the thing that I haue tolde you heretofore: that is ⟨p. 275⟩to wit, that God wil not be serued by constraint, but of free loue. He could say, Thou shalt honour thy God,1 thou shalt obey thy God, thou shalt feare thy GOD: and so hee doeth in other textes, and it is good reason that it should be so: but he speaketh expressely of loue. And why? To shewe that if our seruing of him bee by constreint, so as wee goe to it against our wils: though wee honor him neuer so much, and doe all that is possible to glorify his name: yet if the