A17698:1209
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.
Again, the comparing of the people of Israel with our selves, ought to quicken us up yet better, to stand upon our guard. It is said, when the Lord thy GOD shall have given thee thy fill. And of what goods? Of wine which thou shalt have gathered of other mens labours, and of all other things to live by which thou haste not earned: when thy God shall have fed thee so of his own free goodness, see thou forget him not. If the people of Israel might forget GOD having had most apparent records of the favour that was showed unto them: what will become of us which are held here under the common order of nature? For we have no miracles to spur us forth to Godward: we have not a land of Canaan as a special elected and chosen dwelling place. And therefore we might easilyer forget GOD than that people could, if we should not remember this present lesson early and late. And for as much as we see our own coldness, let us learn to match the spiritual benefits as well which God hath bestowed upon us heretofore as which we look for hereafter, with the things that pertain to the maintenance of this transitory life. True it is that although we thought upon no more than the things that are given us for this body: yet were we sufficiently bound to God, yea and a hundred fold more than we could discharge our selves of. Notwithstanding, besides all this, our Lord giveth us cause enough to serve him, in that he granteth us so many spiritual benefits that belong to the saving ⟨p. 283⟩of our souls, whereof we have a portion already.1 For whereof cometh faith? whereof cometh it that we be grafted into the body of our Lord Jesus Christ by being baptized in his name, and that we be taken into Gods household to be avowed for his children? Whereof come these things but of his giving of the spirit of adoption unto us,2 to the intent we should call upon him as our father, be assured of the heavenly heritage, stand in awe of him,§10 and live according to his word? And is not this doing of his a special gift? Yes, and yet besides this, there is a life prepared for us, whereof we have but only a taste as yet. For we have received (as ye would say) some first fruits of it: but we shall not have the full fruition of it, until God have taken us quite and clean away to himself: