A17698:1343
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 see here again the thing that hath bin treated of already heretofore:§20 namely that God endeavoureth to draw us to him by gentleness. It were enough for him to show us his will: howbeit forasmuch as our nature draweth the clean contrary way, he setteth his promises afore us to win us withal, & to provoke us to serve him the better. Therefore whensoever God promiseth to bless us, & to make us to prosper so we serve him: thereby we be put in mind of the singular goodness & love which he beareth towards us. For §30is he bound to do it? Nay, ought not every of us to strain our selves, (yea even above our power,) to serve him? Are we not bound thereto by nature? Yes: and therefore let us mark well, that whereas God vouchsafeth to tell us that if we serve him he will be favourable and merciful unto us: his so doing proceedeth of his own mere free goodness. And if that move us not: the world may see what our unthankfulness is. But yet by the way let us mark well, that his promises should §40stand us in no stead, if our Lord supplied not our defaults, I mean even when we be best minded to serve him, for else should we come far short of the perfection that is required of us. All his promises then should nothing boot us, if he did not bear with us: and so is he fain to use double grace towards us. Howbeit to the intent that things may be the better understood: let us see first of all how it may agree, that God should bless us of his own §50free goodness, & make us to prosper: & yet notwithstanding match it with this condition, that we serve & honour him. For at the first sight there seemeth to be some disagreement in it. If God love us without respect of our deservings: there ought to be no ifs nor conditions in the matter.
WE see here againe the thing that hath bin treated of alredy heretofore:§20 namely that God indeuoreth to drawe vs to him by gentlenesse. It were enough for him to shew vs his will: howbeit forasmuch as our nature draweth the cleane cō trary way, he setteth his promises afore vs to win vs withall, & to prouoke vs to serue him the better. Therefore whensoeuer God promiseth to blesse vs, & to mak vs to prosper so we serue him: thereby we be put in minde of ye singular goodnesse & loue which he beareth towardes vs. For §30