A17698:1351
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.
But here might a question be moved, that seeing God respecteth not our merits when he doth us good: why useth he this manner of speech which we read here in Moses? There are two reasons. The one is, that he intendeth to make us feel his grace the better, by driving us to grant that none of all the things which he behighteth us could take effect, if our works should be respected,§40 & therefore that he must be fain to bury all our sins, & to accept us of his own free goodness. This would be somewhat with the darkest, if it should not be laid forth more at length. His saying (in effect,) is that whereas God telleth us, that if we serve him, he will bless us and prosper us: his intent is that every of us should examine himself, and consider at what point we be with him. And when we once know that in stead of serving him, we do provoke him against us & §50grieve him, as though we had conspired to do so of wilful malice: & when we once know that we be so greatly in his danger even by nature: then will all vain self-trust be beaten down in us, & we will have none other mind, than to resort to the mercy that is promised us, and to flee thither for refuge, so as we shall be quite & clean bereft of the fond opinion which we had conceived of our own works, & not think them any more to be meritorious. Thus ye see what we have to §60note for the first reason.
But here might a question bee moued, that seeing God respecteth not our merites when he doth vs good: why vseth he this maner of speach which we reade here in Moses? There are two reasons. The one is, that he intendeth to make vs feele his grace ye better, by driuing vs to graūt that none of al ye things which he behighteth vs could take effect, if our workes should be respected,§40 & therefore that he must be faine to bury all our sinnes, & to accept vs of his owne freegoodnesse. This would be somewhat with ye darkest, if it should not be layd forth more at lēgth. His saying (in effect,) is that wheras God telleth vs, that if we serue him, he wil blesse vs and prosper vs: his intent is that euery of vs should examine himselfe, and consider at what point wee be with him. And when we once know yt in stead of seruing him, we doe prouoke him against vs & §50