A17698:1315
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 herewithall let us mark, that whereas it is said, that the people [of Israel] were not the greatest of other Nations: under one kind, he comprehended all the rest. As if he should say, there was neither dignity nor worthiness in you, why God should choose you rather than any other Nation. For it must be utterly rooted out of our hearts, to imagine that God findeth any thing in us, which may move him to love us. For until §50such time as men be quite rid of self-weening, they shall never be able to glorify God as they ought to do. And although we blaze it not with open mouth, that there is some desert or excellency in us: yet notwithstanding we fall asleep in such self-soothing, as we imagine that there is still some value in our selves. And therefore it behoveth us to enter purposely into our consciences, and to cleanse them in such wise as we leave not any one drop of pride & presumption there:§60 to the intent that when we have throughly searched and sifted all that is in us of our nature, we may know there is not any thing that may purchase us grace and favour at Gods hand, nor that can be acceptable unto him, but that we be naked and unpurveyed of all goodness and glory, and finally that we have nothing in us but utter filth and uncleanness.1 When examination is made after y• manner: then shall men be disposed to receive Gods grace, and to glorify him for it when they shall have received it. Then let us learn to understand well, that the searching of all that ever is in us to the hard bottom, (so as we foster not any imagination of self-worthiness, but perceive that God findeth us utterly unhappy and accursed, so as we might be utterly forlorn and damned, and we have not any thing of our own but such as provoketh Gods wrath and vengeance against us:) cometh of the grace that god hath granted unto us. When we be come to that point: then must we come also to the love that Moses speaks of here.
And herewithall let vs marke, that whereas it is said, that the people [of Israel] were not the greatest of other Nations: vnder one kinde, he comprehended al the rest. As if he should say, there was neither dignitie nor worthinesse in you, why God shoulde choose you rather than any other Nation. For it must be vtterly rooted out of our hearts, to imagine that God findeth any thing in vs, which may moue him to loue vs. For vntill