A17698:1886
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.
Now then, seeing that God telleth us that this is the convenient time,1 & that he calleth us unto him: let us learn, let us learn I say to go to him and to make hast, least this threat light upon us, that we be cursed for our wickedness, in that we listed not to §50receive the benefit that was offered us. And specially nowadays we ought to be the more provoked thereunto, because our fathers of old time had not the like occasion. It is true that Moses might well say he offered the blessing to those people in the law: But we in these days have the blessing set forth more openly in the Gospel. The promises at that time were dark, & they pointed at Jesus Christ, howbeit a far off. They yielded some small taste of life; but we at this day have our fill of it, so as §60god giveth us even his hart there without omitting of any thing, to the intent to make us to perceive his inestimable love, thereby to draw us & to win us unto him. Sith it is so, that the law showeth us it aloof, & the gospel bringeth it nearer to us: let us not be so froward as to shrink away as though we would needs spite God of purpose to be cursed: but let us rather embrace the blessing which costeth us nothing as they say: For there is no more for us to do but to receive it willingly, according to the promise which he maketh us, saying: Open thy mouth & I will fill it.2 And for the same cause also doth S. Paul say, Now are the acceptable days, now are the days of salvation; showing how the same is to be applied to y• preaching of the Gospel. His alleging of that text of Isaiah's is as he should say, Our Lords desire is nothing else but to do the office of a saviour among us: & therefore suffer him to show himself such a one. Again, let us understand that we need not to seek far for him; for he offereth himself to us before we once think of him, to make us perceive his fatherly kindness & goodness. And on the contrary part, when he threateneth us & is minded to make us feel his rigour; he runneth not upon us at the first dash, neither lifteth he up his hand by and by to strike us: but only showeth it us first aloof. Yet notwithstanding, howsoever he fare, let us mark that the Gospel is never preached, but that he witnesseth on the one side that he is ready to receive men to mercy, & to open them the gate of his kingdom, that they may go into it: