A17698:203
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.
But yet for all that, we must conclude, that forasmuch as we be in the protection of our God, we be sure of the victory, if we fight well. Therefore let this saying be well printed in our mind, that the Lord our God will fight for us. When there is any question of doing well, the Papists cling §50to their own freewill, and it seemeth to them that God layeth the bridle in their neck, so as they be able to do this and that, whereby they overthrow themselves as they be worthy. But contrariwise let us flee to our God, and hope to have him do the things that we cannot do.
But yet for all that, we must conclude, that forasmuch as we be in the protection of our God, we be sure of the victorie, if we fight wel. Therefore let this saying be well printed in our minde, that the Lord our God will fight for vs. When there is any question of doing well, the Papistes cling §50to their own freewill, and it seemeth to thē that God layeth the brydle in their necke, so as they be able to doe this and that, whereby they ouerthrowe themselues as they be worthy. But contrariwise let vs flee to our God, and hope to haue him doe the thinges that we cannot doe.
Furthermore let us mark well, that this doctrine could not stand, unless we were unable to fight for our selves. For were we of power to resist our enemies, Gods fighting for us were §60more than needed. Then doth it follow, that his fighting is because we have no power at all, because our arms are as good as broken, and because we be lame from the sole of the foot to the crown of the head. And in good sooth, if the Jews having to do but only with mortal and transitory enemies, needed to have God to fight for them: what had we need of? I pray you, when we see Satan and all the world ready to give assault upon us, yea and that he hath already gotten the forehand of us, and in the mean while we have neither wall, nor bank to hold them out, but (which is worse) all our own lusts are as darts wherewith Satan may serve his turn to wound us with all: can we defend our selves, having so hard a battle to bear out? No: and so we see how the poor papists are deceived, in presuming upon their own freewill, and in bearing themselves on hand that if they have never so little help of God, they can well enough get the upper hand of Satan. On the contrary part, it is not said that God will supply some little default with his power, and that we must fight first to prevent him: it is not said so, but that it is our God that fighteth for us. It followeth then that all that ever we do, is done by the only power that he giveth us, so as it is borrowed of him.