A17698:1254
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.
The other is, that we should know to what end he hath given us his Sacraments, so as we have the precepts of his whole Law, which pertain to the exercising of us in his fear and in the hope of our salvation: and to what end he hath set such order among us as we now have. We must know what is meant by all this. Nevertheless, this briefness will be darksome, if it be not declared better. When we consider how God hath created & shaped us, and moreover made us after his own image, and given us wit and reason, and therewithal the hope of a better life▪ and finally hath vouchsafed to take us as his household folk: it showeth us that we be bound to submit our selves unto him. For seeing he is our maker: do we not owe him all obedience? Nay there is yet more: namely that in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ his son,1 he hath redeemed us and made us partakers of his Gospel,2 to the end that we should be guided by his hand. Now then, the first point is that when we have knowledge, it must stir us up to serve God, & to stick to the pure religion that is comprehended in his word. Howbeit this is not enough: but when we be asked yet nearer, Wherefore the promises of the forgiveness of sins are given us:3 [we must answer,] Alas, it is because we be wretched sinners, & we should be continually in anguish and sorrow of mind, if we knew not that God is contented to be merciful unto us of his own mere grace. For he cannot love us except we be righteous: and we shall never find any holiness in our life,4 or perfection in our virtues: but it is through Gods mercy, which it pleaseth him to extend towards us. And so now ye see whereunto the promises tend.
The other is, that wee should know to what end hee hath giuen vs his Sacraments, so as we haue the preceptes of his whole Lawe, which pertaine to the exercising of vs in his feare and in the hope of our saluation: and to what end he hath set such order among vs as wee now haue. Wee must knowe what is meant by all this. Neuerthelesse, this briefenesse will bee darkesome, if it be not declared better. When wee consider how God hath created & shaped vs, and moreouer made vs after his owne image, and giuen vs witte and reson, and therewithall the hope of a better life and finally hath voutsafed to take vs as his houshold folke: it sheweth vs that wee bee bound to submit our selues vnto him. For seeing hee is our maker: doe wee not owe him all obedience? Nay there is yet more: namely that in the person of our Lorde Iesus Christ his sonne,