A17698:1897
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.
For otherwise, how were it possible that we wretched creatures should attain to such dignity, as that God should vouchsafe to win us by gentleness, & utter the good love that he beareth us, & be willing to have us §40to be his, to the end that he might be owner of us? Must it not needs be that we be worse than froward if we benefit not ourselves by such grace? Yes, & therefore let us learn to answer Amen willingly, when our Lord behighteth us his blessings. For on the contrary part, although we harden our hearts & shut our eyes, yea & grind our teeth at God as it were in rage & despite of him: yet must there follow an Amen thereupon, which shall burn us like a searing iron, whereby God will show that his §50word is as a burning fire to consume all things, so as we must needs feel the inward scalding thereof when God uttereth the power of his word, by reason whereof we shall be in continual unquietness & torment for ever, if he set himself against us. Yet for all this the faithful must answer Amen, as well to the blessings as the cursings. Amen, by embracing the grace that God offereth us. Doth God offer himself so unto us? Cometh he to seek us out when we be utterly lost & forlorn? Doth he §60come down to these horrible miseries wherein we be plunged? Well, then it is our duty to go unto him, and not to be so froward as to draw back when he allureth us so gently. Thus ye see how we must answer Amen to the blessings, by embracing the grace of the holy Ghost, that we may be guided & governed by it, & made acceptable to our God, by fashioning our life after the rule ye he hath given us, in resting upon the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby he is reconciled unto us, & accepteth us for righteous, insomuch that although we be sinners, yet he receiveth us for his sons sake, & covereth all our sins & vices. After that sort therefore must we answer Amen, that our Lord may perform all the free promises which he hath made unto us.
For otherwise, how were it possible that we wretched creatures should attaine to such dignitie, as yt God should vouchsafe to win vs by gentlenes, & vtter ye good loue that he beareth vs, & be willing to haue vs §40to be his, to the ende yt he might be owner of vs? Must it not needs be yt we be worse than froward if we benefit not ourselues by such grace? Yes, & therfore let vs learn to answere Amen willingly, when our Lord behighteth vs his blessinges. For on the contrary part, although wee harden our hearts & shut our eyes, yea & grind our teeth at God as it were in rage & dispite of him: yet must there follow an Amen therupō, which shall burn vs like a searingyron, wherby God wil shew yt his