A17698:1345
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 thirdly, that he accepteth our works & taketh them for good, so as although they be (as ye would say) but half done, and have always some fault mingled with them: yet notwithstanding he ceaseth not to admit them as if they were righteous and sound, and all by virtue of the said covenant, as I said afore. Now then we see it is no inconvenience, that God should bless us and make us to prosper when we have served him: and yet notwithstanding that his loving of ⟨p. 322⟩us should be, not for any worthiness or deserts of ours: but for his own free goodness sake, without any other reason that we can allege, than that he hath chosen us and made us partakers of the righteousness that is in our Lord Jesus Christ, that thereby all our filthiness may be covered and hidden.
And thirdly, that he accepteth our workes & taketh them for good, so as although they be (as ye would say) but halfe done, and haue alwayes some faulte mingled with them: yet notwithstanding he ceaseth not to admit them as if they were righteous and sound, and all by vertue of the said couenaunt, as I saide afore. Now then we see it is no incōuenience, yt God should blesse vs and make vs to prosper when wee haue serued him: and yet notwithstanding that his louing of ⟨p. 322⟩vs should bee, not for any woorthinesse or desertes of ours: but for his owne free goodnesse sake, without any other reason that wee can alledge, than that he hath chosen vs and made vs partakers of the righteousnesse that is in our Lord Iesus Christ, that thereby all our filthinesse may be couered and hidden.
But as soon as the ignorant sort do hear of the word Condition, they bear themselves in hand that God maketh some payment, & that §10when he showeth us any favour, he doth it in recompense of our deserts. And by that means the wretched Papists do blind themselves with vain presumption, & quite overthrow themselves by perking up after that fashion against God, & therefore they must at length be cast down in their overloftines. For whereunto do they lean? Behold (say they,) God telleth us that he will bless us if we serve him: therefore it followeth that all the promises which he maketh are conditional.