A17698:1908
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 heretofore Moses addeth further, that the Jews must not serve God at the first, and afterward become cold: but that they must persevere in it all the time of their life. And after that manner will God be honoured of us. For he taketh us not to hire for certain days, & then to let us go, or to give us leave to depart at the end of our term: he taketh us for life & death. And it is good reason, as S. Paul showeth us where he saith that our Lord Jesus died & rose again to reign both over the quick & the dead.1 Though there were none other respect than this, were it not enough? Behold, the son of God which bought us by his death and passion, is risen again immediately: & is it not meet then that we should give our selves to him & to God his father, and that we should be wholly dedicated unto him, & that we should both endeavour to serve him as long as we live upon the earth, and also that our death should be as a sacrifice & offering unto him, to show ourselves obedient to him in all points? Yes: & therefore let us mark well, that we must not do it, as it were in a pang, as a number of folk do, who are very hot in gods service for a two or three days, and afterward their mind is altered, & their devotion is quite gone, & they show full well that there was no zeal in them. But let us always bear in mind to serve God as long as we live. And therewithal let us also bethink us of that which is set down he ere, ⟨p. 490⟩where Moses speaketh yet again of the heritage that had bin promised to the Jews. For seeing that our Lord doth daily put us in mind of his grace: it is good reason that we should pluck up a good courage to honour him, & gather new strength to say, forasmuch as I have lived out this day in the world, & have served God this morning, seeing that I perceive he continueth his goodness still towards me, yea, & incre aseth it: is it not reason that my zeal & mine affection to serve him should be the §10more kindled, and that my hope should not be abated? That is the thing which Moses meant in saying, Ye shall possess the land & as long as ye possess it ye shall have a fair mirror before your eyes to show you how your God calleth you to him, & maintaineth you in the possession of the benefit which he hath once bestowed upon you.
Now heretofore Moses addeth further, yt the Iewes must not serue God at the first, and afterward become cold: but yt they must perseuere in it all the time of their life. And after yt maner will God be honoured of vs. For he taketh vs not to hyre for certain dayes, & then to let vs go, or to giue vs leaue to depart at the ende of our terme: he taketh vs for life & death. And it is good reason, as S. Paul sheweth vs where he sayth yt our Lord Iesus died & rose again to reigne both ouer the quicke & the dead.