A17698:2343
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.
And herewtall let us mark further, that when we be grafted into his body, it is not for us to serve sin.1 For, to be grafted into the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, & yet notwithstanding to serve Satan, are two things as contrary as fire and water. Now then if we intend not to defeat the power of the son of God, & to bereave him of his office: we must be in liberty to serve god. And let us not think that he meant to beguile us, in telling us that that office belongeth unto him. But it becometh us on our part to offer our selves unto him, & not to maintain willingly the cursed bondage wherein we be. For the very cause why men perish therein, is that they sooth themselves and fall asleep in it, and come not frankly to Jesus Christ. Now then let us note that the true mark of our Christendom; is that we be in freedom to do good, & that we have a pure & free will to dedicate our selves to god. Not that we can do it perfectly so long as we be in this world, (for we see how S. Paul, who) had profited far above a number of other men,2 mourneth and confesseth that he is still held as a captive in part:) but for that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ must nevertheless work so far in us, as we may not be held quite back by these ⟨p. 606⟩worldly things. But let us mark that our Lord Jesus Christ hath not only drawn us out of the gulf of death, but also will have us daily to pass further. And forasmuch as we be not quite & clean rid of this bondage of sin: this passing on must continue still. What is all our life then? It is a continual holding on to attain to the full and perfect freedom which God hath promised to his children. And that is the cause why I said that it behooved us to eat the Paschal Lamb every day. For Jesus §10Christ is not our everlasting Passover, for that he is sacrificed every day: but for that we do daily take benefit by him, & for that he maketh the virtue of his sacrifice continually available by his holy spirit. Notwithstanding, howsoever the case go, yet must we still keep on forward, until we be taken out of this world.
And herewtall let vs marke further, yt when we bee graffed into his body, it is not for vs to serue sin.