A17698:1414
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.
Furthermore, God is fain to leave us still in our infirmities, because that if he should give us the full perfection, there is none of us all but he would advance himself too much and be too proud. It is certain that we have victory already against Satan,1 as it was purchased for us in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ: but yet must we be fain to endure many encounters, and many rough assaults, yea and to be brought to so great perplexities, as we shall not wot which way to turn us, but we shall have over much ado to withstand our own vices, and the great number of imperfections that are in us. And why is that? Even to humble us. In deed we have a promise that God will vanquish Satan, and thrust him down as it were under our feet, as S. Paul speaketh of it in the sixteenth of the Romans:2 But yet shall not that be done at the first day: to the intent we may have cause to praise God, in that we see our selves to frail, and yet he giveth us strength to hold on our way still continually. Ye see then that we must keep still our way in walking through this world:3 for it is a journey as the Scripture ⟨p. 341⟩termeth it. Now then, let us fully determine with our selves to suffer it patiently, if God delay to give us full victory of our enemies, yea even of our ghostly enemies, assuring our selves that he doeth it not without just cause. But yet must we be fully persuaded of another point also, namely that although we linger a long time, and things be out of order as in respect of the world, and God enlighten us not, but let us alone in great distress: yet he will give us the upper hand §10in the end. We must be fully resolved of that: for without such certainty we could not have any courage one minute of an hour, but we should quail out of hand, and it would seem to us that the devil should overwhelm us. And specially when we were to fight against our own lusts, how might we get the upper hand of them? And if we find our selves so cumbered to day: what shall we find to morrow? The mischief will increase continually: and the §20