A17698:1321
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.
WE saw yesterday, that the cause why Moses saith here expressly, that God chose one certain people, & made not that grace §40common to all the world: was to humble those to whom god uttered himself, to the end they should know that it befell them not for their deserts, nor through their own purchase: but through the only goodness of God.1 And that is the cause also why David speaking of this people, saith, the son of Abraham Gods well-beloved, the seed of Jacob his chosen. Those two words are matched together, to show that that people was shouled §50out from all other Nations, not for any worthiness that was in them: but by reason of free election, and to express Gods goodness and love towards us the better: and therefore doeth he send us wholly thither. Truth it is that in this place he speaketh of the general election of the whole people, in that God had adopted them, And that is well worth the marking. For in calling Abraham, God extended the promise of salvation unto his whole linage. He said §60unto Abraham, I will be the God of thy linage after thee. Here then is a general election (as they term it) of the whole people, inasmuch as God separated them from the rest of the world,2 telling them that he took them for his inheritance and Church.3 And in very deed, the sign of circumcision was as a seal, to warrant all the offspring of that race, that God was their saviour: and so, that was such a grace as was common to all the children of Abraham. Howbeit, there is another second election or choosing, which is (as ye would say) straiter: namely, that out of the same linage god chooseth whom he thinks good. And herein there is no contrariety. For we must consider the degrees which the holy scripture setteth down, when it speaketh of all mankind. It showeth that they be alienated or estranged from God, and consequently from the hope of salvation: by means whereof all men even from the greatest to the least, are damned. Now God draweth out of them whom he listeth. And to the intent his grace should be the better known, he chose one linage. And whose linage? Even the linage of one man in whom there was no hope of issue. For when God said to Abraham, I will be the God of thy seed after thee: