A17698:1704
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.
And hereby we be warned that it is in vain for men to make protestation, as a number do,§50 which go about to excuse themselves that they can not give themselves to God, because of the weakness & sinfulness of their nature. Verily, as who would say, that the evil which is in us should serve us for our defence. Were not that a mocking of God? Shall a man be acquit at his judges hand, by confessing himself to be guilty? But here it is showed us, that all the hardness that we have in us to obey God, yea even though it be impossible for us to move forward to the performance of the §60least commandment of the law: will not serve to justify us. Why so? Let a man look well to it, & he shall find that the fault is not in the law: for it requireth no more but that we should serve our God, & therewithal love him by yielding him his dew reverence: and what is it to do that? let us know therefore, that the whole fault is in our selves that we obey not our God; & that although we have no power at all to perform our duty, yet doth not that discharge us, seeing that God demandeth nothing but that which is right & reason.
And hereby wee be warned that it is in vaine for men to make protestation, as a number doe,§50 which go about to excuse themselues yt they can not giue themselues to God, because of ye weaknes & sinfulnes of their nature. Verily, as who would say, that the euil which is in vs shold serue vs for our defence. Were not that a mocking of God? Shal a man be acquit at his iudges hand, by confessing himself to be giltie? But here it is shewed vs, that al ye hardnes that we haue in vs to obey God, yea euen though it be impossible for vs to moue forward to the performance of the §60least commandement of the lawe: will not serue to iustifie vs. Why so? Let a man looke well to it, & he shal find that the fault is not in the lawe: for it requireth no more but that wee shoulde serue our God, & therewithal loue him by yelding him his dew reuerence: and what is it to do that? let vs knowe therfore, that the whole fault is in our selues yt we obey not our God; & that although we haue no power at all to performe our duetie, yet doth not that discharge vs, seeing that God demādeth nothing but yt which is right & reasō.