A17698:1313
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.
And although this matter cannot be discoursed throughout: yet must we note, that Moses spake here of Gods election, to the intent that the people should be the more humbled, and that the same humbling of them should engender an affection and zeal to serve God according as he was known to them. Therefore when there is any talk of the grace that God hath showed us in enlightening us, & it is told us that he hath adopted us to be his children & of his Church: we must needs match this with it, that our having of all these things is not by our own purchase, nor for putting of ⟨p. 314⟩our selves forth by any virtue or good mind that was in us: but through Gods seeking of us at such time as we turned our backs upon him. Now by this means we be humbled, & we have need of it. For as soon as men have any inkling of any goodness that is in themselves: they like well of it & stand gassing at their own feathers like Peacocks: but in the mean while they consider not, that they rob and bereave God of the praise that is due to him. Therefore whensoever there is any speaking §10of Gods grace, it is requisite for us to be put in mind of this matter, to the end we may not imagine our selves to have deserved aught on our own side, or that God respected any good disposition that was in us: but assure our selves that nothing but his free love moved him to do it. When we be so humbled: then must we needs be spoiled of our own reason, or else become stark beasts, if we take not courage to serve God and to dedicate our selves wholly unto him, to say, How happeneth §20it that whereas we were cursed and damned creatures, our God hath sought us out, yea even from the dungeons of death, & hath opened us the gate of the kingdom of heaven, calling and drawing us daily thither: & yet in the mean while we be slothful in serving him? And specially sith we see that whereas the most part of the world goeth to destruction, and the wretched Infidels are so blinded that they be let alone in the darkness of their ignorance, God in the mean while §30watcheth early and late over us: what ought we to do,1 when he useth such special love towards us?