A17698:1814
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.
Therefore to come again to the first matter, let us note that God provoketh us to the keeping of his commandments, by such means as he knoweth to be most convenient for us.1 And that is the cause why he saith, that if we be wholly his, he also is ours: and that if we draw near unto him he will draw nigh unto us: & will bless us, & he will not only prosper us in this transitory life: but we may well hope for a far greater reward in the kingdom of heaven. All these things are told us: and to what end? Not to puff us up with any vain presumption, as though we were able to deserve aught at Gods hand, but to encourage us the more to do well, seeing that our God which ⟨p. 465⟩might well exact the performance of all that is contained in his Law, without allowing us any reward all, doth nevertheless vouchsafe to bind himself freely of his own accord. Mark that for the first point. For we see here, that Gods promising of all these things to that people, was not for any obedience that they had yielded unto him; for the land had bin promised to their fathers, yea even by oath, long before they were borne. And if a man speak of the time that §10was to come: we see that God had no respect of that, he looketh not that the people should behave themselves so well as to receive reward of him for it: but he saith; I have already promised you the land, yea I have promised it you for your inheritance, to the intent ye should not think ye have gotten it by your own purchase. And for proof thereof, I assured it unto you by free gift before you were begotten: but yet if ye intend to enjoy it, take heed that ye give your §20selves to me. Here ye see how God preventeth all deserving: he regardeth not what we have deserved, but whereas he seeth us to be wretched and destitute of all goodness, so as he findeth nothing but sin in us, whereby we deserve to be rejected: yet nevertheless he of his own infinite mercy bindeth himself unto us, & telleth us he will do us good, as though we had served him according to his law. Mark it for one point.
Therefore to come againe to the first matter, let vs note yt God prouoketh vs to the keping of his commaundements, by such meanes as he knoweth to be most conuenient for vs.