A17698:152
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 let us mark well, that Moses having alleged Gods promise, and having said that the Land was at the peoples commandment, because GOD meant not to fail in the performance of the thing that he had once promised: addeth afterward, Enter into it and take possession of it. Wherein he showeth us that although GOD perform in us all that he hath said: yet must not we on our side be idle, nor be as blocks of wood, but we must offer our selves to his service. For albeit that we cannot stir one finger to do well: yet hath GOD made us instruments whereby he will work.
But let vs marke well, that Moses hauing alledged Gods promise, and hauing saide that the Lande was at the peoples commaundement, because GOD ment not to fayle in the perfourmance of the thing that hee had once promised: addeth afterwarde, Enter into it and take possession of it. Wherein hee sheweth vs that although GOD performe in vs al that hee hath saide: yet must not wee on our side bee idle, nor bee as blockes of wood, but wee must offer our selues to his seruice. For albeit that wee cannot stirre one finger to doe wel: yet hath GOD made vs instrumentes whereby hee will worke.
Therefore we must go forward when he commandeth us, and we must endeavour to apply all our members and wits to obey him. True it is (as I said) that men are utterly unprofitable, yea and that their will goeth clean back from that which God commandeth: but yet for all that, God ceaseth not to give us willingness, and when he hath given us willingness, he giveth us also performance, as saint Paul avoucheth to the Philippians:1 and therewithal he maketh us to do it with fear and carefulness. When as Saint Paul saith, Do ye, and also, It is God that doeth: those two things seem to be contraries: but they be not. For Gods working is in such wise, as he imputeth to himself the things that he doth in us: and yet for all that, he will not have us to be slothful and to fall a sleep, but that every of us should endeavour himself. Let us learn then that whensoever God promiseth us any thing, it is his office to accomplish the whole.