A17698:1815
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 thereupon he ceaseth not to say, Do the §30things that I have commanded you, that ye may enjoy the benefits that I have promised you. The reason is, that he will not have his goodness dallied withal. If he be liberal, he will not have men to abuse it as they commonly do. When it is told us that all that ever we have at Gods hand, is of his only free gift: we bear our selves in hand, that we have leave to do evil, and to li•e every man after his own liking, and that it is no matter what we do. But God will not have §40his gracious goodness so disgrace. For his showing of himself favourable unto us, is to another end and purpose: namely to provoke us to love him again; and that because we find him so good a father, we should be like-minded again towards him, & behave our selves as his children. That is the thing which Moses telleth us here when he saith. Look that ye obey your God, if ye mind to possess the land which he promised to your fathers. For on the one side §50he showeth that the land of Canaan was an heritage of free gift: and yet he forbeareth not to tell them, that they must not dally with God in abusing that liberality of his, but so much the rather both love him & fear him. And when they see that God hath poured out the great riches of his mercy so upon them; the same ought to inflame them to say, let us give over our selves wholly to our God: Seeing that he hath sought us out of such time as we were gone from him,§60 & prevented us with his goodness, not respecting our unworthiness, but taking occasion of himself to do us good: let it kindle the greater desire in us to submit out selves to his power and will.
And thereupon he ceaseth not to say, Do the §30thinges that I haue commaunded you, that ye may inioy the benefites that I haue promised you. The reason is, that he will not haue his goodnesse dalyed withall. If he be liberall, he will not haue men to abuse it as they commonly doe. When it is told vs that all that euer we haue at Gods hand, is of his onely free gift: wee beare our selues in hand, that we haue leaue to doe euill, and to li•e euery man after his owne lyking, and that it is no matter what we doe. But God will not haue