A17698:1610
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.
yet hath God showed once for all, that he is alienated from us, and that he will have us to be as strangers to his house. Trueth it is that his election is without repentance: yet notwithstanding (as it is said in Exodus,1) he will save §60whom he listeth. Howbeit, if we stick not purely to his word: it is all one as if we fell out with him, and plaid the fugitive and unruly children: and he will not suffer us to despise his covenant after that manner without avenging of himself of such unthankfulness. And he hath showed us at that time in the person of Moses, that he giveth over and forsaketh all those, which turn away from the trueth and hold not themselves to it, so that for his part he will have no more to do with them, nor any more acquaintance with them. Wherefore let us beware that this horrible sentence be not cast upon us, and whensoever our Lord shall have called us, let it serve to hold us in awe and fear. But yet let us know also, that it is not enough for us to have our cares beaten with Gods commandments, and to have them set before us, and to be encouraged to keep them: for God must be fain to work within our hearts, or else all the teaching in the world will stand us in no stead: it will be but a sound ringing in the air, whereof no profit will redound. Now then, come we to hear Gods word? In deed we ought to make account of the favour that he showeth us in causing it to be preached unto us: but yet let us assure our selves that that would but turn to our greater condemnation, if he engraved it not in our hearts. What is to be done then? We must discharge our selves of all selftrust, assuring our selves that we shall be but evil scholars, until GOD have taught us by his holy spirit. Notwithstanding that he shall have used men as his instruments, to bring us to the knowledge of his trueth: yet must he himself bore our ears,2 that we may hearken to him, and he must touch our hearts and soften them, that we may receive the doctrine which is uttered unto us. Wherefore let us learn to mislike our selves, by acknowledging our own sin and wretchedness: and therewithal let us pray him to work in such sort, as the things which we shall have heard and understood, be not a witness against us of our rebelliousness, and that we have been folk past amendment.