A17698:1643
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 whereas Moses saith thy people, and thine inheritance: he meaneth not that the people had purchased that dignity themselves. It was a great honour that any one people of all mankind should be called Gods inheritance. Deserved they to be in that estimation? Moses addeth immediately, that there was nothing but stubbornness, wickedness, and sin in them. It followeth then that all is to be referred to the free adoption,§30 wherethrough God had chosen that people, as if he should say, I will have the house of Abraham to reign over it, there will I dwell, that shall be my Church,1 there will I rest. God in so saying, had not respect whether the people were worthy of it or no: and it appeared by the effect, that they were a spiteful people: but whatsoever they were, God had made the said promise, which was not grounded upon any deserts of man. The thing then that Moses setteth us §40down here, is this: Lord have mercy upon thy people, and upon thine heritage. And so, when we resort to God to crave forgiveness of our sins, let us learn to make none other entrance to find favour and to be heard, than by alleging the benefits that we have erst received at his hand. That (say I) is the gate that we must enter at in praying unto God. Albeit we have offended him and be never so wretched sinners: yet notwithstanding inasmuch as he §50hath chosen us for his flock, and vouchsafed to utter himself to us, and to give us assurance that he is our father and saviour: we may press familiarly unto him, having so sure a pledge of his goodness. But yet let us beware of presumption, that we seek not any thing in our selves wherewith to bind God unto us, for we be utterly void of any such thing: but let us be contented to offer unto him the things which we hold of him: and in doing him homage §60for his benefits, let us take courage to call upon him, assuring our selves that he will continue them still, & that as he hath showed himself liberal towards us heretofore, so he will give us assurance that he will not fail us hereafter. This in effect is the thing which we have to remember in this saying of Moses, where he calleth the Jews Gods people and heritage.
Nowe wheras Moses saith thy people, and thine inheritance: he meaneth not that the people had purchased that dignitie themselues. It was a great honour that any one people of all mankinde shoulde be called Gods inheritance. Deserued they to bee in that estimation? Moses addeth immediatly, that there was nothing but stubbornnesse, wickednesse, and sinne in them. It followeth then that all is to be referred to the free adoption,