A17698:1428
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.
Here again Moses showeth §40the people, that God gave not his law in vain, but that his will is to have it kept and that is the way for us also to §50fare the better by it. True it is, that whensoever any man speaketh to us in Gods name, we must have our ears open to hear what is told us; for by that mean doth faith come.1 But yet must we bring our hands and feet with us also, to offer them obediently unto God,2 & to employ all the power that he hath given us in his service. Therefore let us not come hither only to have our ears beaten with the things that are preached unto §60us: but let us also apply them to our use. Instruction must be matched with practise: or else we shall never know what hath bin showed us and taught us. And so we see what we have to bear in mind. Moreover let us mark, that Moses thinketh it not enough to have said these things at once and away: but he repeateth them again for a larger confirmation. Look (saith he) that thou keep the commandments which I enjoin thee: not to the end thou mayest know them at thy singers ends, or be able to utter them with thy mouth: that is not enough: But thou must put th•• in execution. And to confirm this matter the better, he addeth a promise, saying: That thou mayst live, and increase, and go into the land which the Lord thy God did swear unto thy Father. This hath been expounded already heretofore: and there remaineth no more to do, but only to renew the remembrance thereof, according also as we see that that was intent of Moses, or rather of the holy Ghost. Now then, our Lord alto reth us to him by promises, of purpose to give us the better courage to serve him: & he doth it of his own free goodness, without being bound thereto. For he needed no more but to say the word: he hath authority to command us what he listeth, and it is our part to obey him. Why then doth he ad his promises, but to win us by lovingness like a father, who though he have all sovereignty over his child: doeth nevertheless use gentleness in promising, to the intent his child should serve him with the cheerfuller heart? True it is that the child is bound thereto aforehand by nature: but yet when he seeth his father so upright ⟨p. 347⟩