A17698:1881
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.
Also here is a promise added to it, whereby the people might be in the better hope that God ⟨p. 483⟩would bless them. It is all one then with that which I have told you already, namely that God is very gracious to us, in showing us after what manner we ought to lead our life. For without that, we might martyr our selves as much as we lifted, & yet it should be to no purpose. Wherefore let us beware that we receive the word the more reverently which is preached unto us in his name, specially seeing it bringeth us a blessing, not only in that we learn thereby to know what Gods will is,§10 & how to live in his favour; but also for that he bindeth himself of his own good will: insomuch that although no duty compel him thereto; yet vouchsafeth he to covenant with us in such sort, as we shall not serve him in vain. But here a man might cast a doubt, how it cometh to pass that Moses speaking of the law, saith that he setteth forth a blessing? For (as was declared yesterday) whatsoever God promiseth us in his law, we fare never a whit the better by it, because of the §20condition that goeth with it, which is that the promise of his blessing is tied to performing of his commandments. But no man doth that; & therefore are we all disappointed of the promise of the law, by reason of the unpossibilitie of the condition. It should seem then that Moses speaks to no purpose in this text, in promising a blessing to the people. And in deed we hear how S. Paul speaketh of it.1 He saith that the law bringeth nothing but Gods wrath & vengeance; for it rebuketh every §30one of us, so as there is none of us all that is righteous, neither hath ever any man bin. All of us then are convicted by the law,2 as transgressors against Gods righteousness; & so be we in danger of endless death. Sith it is so: it followeth that the law of it self can do no more but show us that we be accursed of our God, & that he is our deadly enemy & must needs be our Judge. And where is then the blessing that Moses speaks of here? The answer hereto is this; that if we look no further but what we be in our own froward