A17698:121
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.
Howbeit by the way, that we may fare the better by the things that are declared here, let us mark that the chief reason and ground of this doctrine, is because there is no accepting §40of persons before GOD. For the same cause ought Judges to have a stay of themselves, and to keep them clear from all considerations that may thrust them aside, or make them to swerve one way or other:1 namely (say I) for that they represent the Majesty of God, in as much as he hath made them his officers. Now then, there is no accepting of persons before God, that is to say, when he judgeth he hath no respect to the things that men regard, and §50wherewith they be drawn too and fro, so as they judge not upright any more, because their excessive affections do over master them. And this saying, that there is no respect of persons with GOD, extendeth very far. For when as Saint Peter speaketh of it, first in the tenth of the Acts,2 and afterward in his Epistle, he showeth that God chose whom he listed out of the whole world, in so much as he passed not whether they were Jews or Gentiles. Whosoever §60doeth good (sayeth he) shall have the favour of God, and as for Circumcision or uncircumcision, they shall none of them both be made account of. True it is that God must be fain to look mercifully upon us, before we can do any good. For of our own nature we be utterly froward, and there can nothing come from us but all manner of naughtiness: insomuch that God should hate and abhor the whole world, and cast us away every chone, if he should tarry till any of us gave himself to well doing: for our nature driveth us always unto evil. But God chooseth his, without any ability of deserving aforehand on their behalf: and yet notwithstanding, after he hath marked them to be of the number of his flock, he avoweth them & loveth them as his children and household folk, yea even without regarding of what nation or state they be, whether they be rich or poor, or in credit, or endued with any good quality and handsomeness, or any other thing. God then doeth as it were shut his eyes against all the respects which are had in so great estimation.