A17698:1691
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.
Moses having spoken so, addeth for a final conclusion, that God had heard him, and said unto him, Go thy way and lead this people into the Land that I promised to their fathers, yea even with an oath: let them go into it and take possession of it. Here again Moses showeth the people that when they be come into the Land of promise, they must understand that that befalleth not to them for their own deservings, but through Gods great mercy,§10 yea and such mercy as ought to ravish their wits to wonder at it: for they had refused all the promises that had been made unto them. So then it stood this people in hand, to be new reared & set up again in their former state, through a singular grace. That is the intent of Moses, whereof I have treated more fully already, and therefore it is enough as now to touch it. But yet let us not forget to apply it to our use, which is, that it behoveth us to understand, that although God §20have called us to the belief of his Gospel, yet so that in respect of this present life, we cease not to shrink away from him, whereby we were worthy to have the door shut against us, & to be taken as folk utterly rejected, unless he receive us to mercy, and that not for once only, but also in that he must double & treble his mercy upon us, in so many sins as we commit against him. Now then, before we can come to the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven, God must be fain to show us many a §30time and often, that we have it not for any worthiness of our own, nor for any purchase that we can make of it by our service, to say that we have earned it: but that his making of us to be his heirs, is of his own mere and freebestowed liberality, for none other cause, but that he hath vouchsafed to choose us, and to bear with us, and to pardon the infinite offences, whereby we cease not to provoke him in suchwise, as he should needs root us out, if he meant to use rigour towards §40us. Thus ye see how we should apply this lesson of Moses to our behoof.
Moses hauing spoken so, addeth for a finall conclusion, that God had heard him, and sayde vnto him, Goe thy way and leade this people into the Lande that I promised to their fathers, yea euen with an othe: let them goe into it and take possession of it. Here againe Moses sheweth the people that when they be come into the Lande of promise, they must vnderstande yt that befalleth not to thē for their owne deseruings, but through Gods great mercy,