A17698:1692
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.
Moreover it ought also to serve us for a comfort, that we be not discouraged when we have offended our God, even after we have known him and are fallen in train of walking according to his word. For though we step a side for a time: yet must not our so doing make us to despair, but we must come back again, assuring ourselves that if God herd Moses in the time of the §50figures of the Law, he will certainly hear him that maketh intercession for us now, that is to wit, his own only son. For our Lord Jesus Christ was a priest, not only to die once to purchase salvation for us, but also to enjoy the same office everlastingly, as in respect of appearing in the sight of God his father,1 to obtain forgiveness for the sins which we commit daily. Let us mark (I say) that if this grace was granted to the fathers under the Law, surely we shall not §60be disappointed of it as now. Yet notwithstanding it is not meant hereby, that that should make us the readier or bolder to offend: but we must understand, that when we come before God, we must acknowledge the faults that we have committed, we must be sorry for our misdeeds, & we must beseech God to bring us home again to him. For as for those that hate not their sins, they be so far of from obtaining of favour at Gods hand, that they do the more provoke his wrath. Contrariwise, when we hate our sins, God looketh no more upon them, but burieth them out of sight. And this warneth us, that when God continueth his mercy towards us, & reneweth the same daily, and taketh us into favour again after we have offended him: his so doing is not to make us the bolder to do evil, as who would say we have made a good market at his hand: let us beware of such blasphemy: but it must be applied wholly to the faults that are past. Therefore when there is speaking of Gods mercy & of the forgiveness of our sins in the holy scripture, we must understand that God sendeth us back to the sins that are past: & therewithal putteth us in mind to beware afterward of the danger that we were in afore:
Moreouer it ought also to serue vs for a comfort, that we be not discoraged when we haue offended our God, euen after we haue knowen him and are fallen in traine of walking according to his worde. For though we step a side for a time: yet must not our so dooing make vs to despaire, but wee must come backe againe, assuring ourselues that if God herd Moses in the time of the