A17698:1508
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.
Now Moses cometh to the second matter which we have touched, which ought to be well marked: namely, that when God hath helped & succoured us, and done more for us than we looked for, or than our wit could conceive: we must yield him his deserved glory, so as we be not sotted with pride and overweening, to challenge that to our selves which belongeth only unto God: let us beware of such unthankfulness. Again, let us not imagine that God serveth his turn by us, in respect of any worthiness of ours: but let us understand that his choosing of us is only in respect of his own good will. We shall not find any deserving at all in our selves in this behalf: but it is of his only free mercy, which he will have us to magnify above all things.
Now Moses commeth to the seconde matter which wee haue touched, which ought to be wel marked: namely, that when God hath helped & succoured vs, and done more for vs than wee looked for, or than our witte could conceiue: we must yeeld him his deserued glorie, so as wee be not sotted with pride and ouerweening, to challengde that to our selues which belongeth alonly vnto God: let vs beware of such vnthankfulnesse. Againe, let vs not imagine that God serueth his turne by vs, in respect of any worthinesse of ours: but let vs vnderstand that his choosing of vs is onely in respect of his owne good will. Wee shall not finde any deseruing at all in our selues in this behalfe: but it is of his onely free mercie, which hee will haue vs to magnifie aboue all things.
True it is, that Moses speaketh here of the land of Canaan. But if men cannot deserve any thing in this world in respect of transitory things: how shall they deserve everlasting life? If I cannot win a little piece of ground: how shall I win a whole realm? So then, let us mark that of the things that are said here, we must gather a general doctrine, which is, that if the children of Israel were put in possession of the land that had been promised them, not §10for their own righteousness sake, but through Gods free goodness: it is much more reason that when we speak of the heavenly life, and of the inheritance of the heavenly glory, we should not dream upon any power of our own, but acknowledge that God hath uttered his righteousness and showed his goodness in his vouchsafing to choose us. And let us mark well the arguments and reasons which Moses allegeth here, to pull down all pride withal,