A17698:190
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 what else is a Christen mans life, than an endeavouring to renounce the world and all his own affections? And therefore look how many good thoughts we have, so many are the deaths of our own froward nature: so as it is not possible for us to serve God one day, but we must die a hundred, yea and a thousand times: I say we must dye by beating down the sinfulness of our own nature: for we be full of vices. So then let us mark well, that God is so far of from making account of Liver-hearted servants, that delight in ease, commodity and pleasure: that he will not only have us to fight, but also to be ready to dye, and to put the doctrine in ure which I come now to touch: that is to say, to be changed and renewed every minute of an hour.
For what else is a Christen mans lyfe, than an indeuoring to renounce the worlde and all his owne affections? And therefore looke how many good thoughtes wee haue, so manie are the deathes of our owne froward nature: so as it is not possible for vs to serue God one day, but we must dy a hundred, yea and a thousand times: I saye wee must dye by beating downe the sinfulnesse of our owne nature: for wee bee full of vices. So then let vs marke well, that God is so farre of from making account of Liuer-hearted seruants, that delight in ease, commoditie and pleasure: that hee will not onely haue vs to fight, but also to be readye to dye, and to put the doctrine in vre which I come now to touch: that is to say, to bee chaunged and renued euerye minute of an houre.
Moreover let us note also, that like as our Lord Jesus Christ was buried after he had bin crucified and suffered the reproach of his death: so must we be buried too. For it is not enough for us to dye one day and no more, as some do, (which ⟨p. 36⟩have good braids, so as ye would think them ready to forsake themselves utterly, and there appeareth great willingness in them to renounce the world: but suddenly they will needs fall to resting there, and they can no skill of entering into the grave:) But we must hold out in it, so as when we have once learned to dye with Christ, and to crucify our old man as S. Paul termeth it to the Romans: we must also be ready to go into the grave,