A17698:3128
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 if one demand how it is possible for a man to be so cleansed, that there should remain no blemish in him: we answer hereunto, That it is most certain we cannot come unto such §60perfection, but yet we must tend thereunto: for we are not excused, so as we should always abide and settle in our filthiness. Therefore every one of us knowing that he is full of uncleanness, must enforce himself by the power of Gods spirit to cleanse himself, and labour to come unto a perfect pureness. When we are so affected, and have this desire in us, then God ceaseth not to accept our sacrifices although they be not worthy to be accepted. And why? for our Lord Jesus Christ supplieth that which is wanting in us, as it is said in an other place to the Hebrews:1 That it is through him that we offer prayers and thanks giving and sacrifices of praise unto God. Ye see then in what sort the pureness of our sacrifices shall be esteemed, to wit, if they be watered with the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, to cleanse them from all their stains. But in any wise he which endeavoureth to serve GOD▪ must examine himself, and knowing his own filthiness and uncleanness, he must enforce himself to be drawn from it. For if we double with GOD, he will dislike of all things that we take in hand. And although men are of opinion, that we do more than our duty; yet questionless in the sight of God, all shall be holden for abominable. And herewithall also let us note, that God reproveth all subtle dealing, when we think to paint forth our case in such sort, as to blear the eyes of God, and that by so doing we do but double our fault, as is declared unto us by this text. Therefore, if we bring unto God any sacrifice, and yet our protesting that we will not offer unto him any unclean sacrifices, is but a setting of some fair colour on the matter; our Lord sayeth still, The price of the dog, and the dog is all one. The hire of an whore, and the whoredom is alike unto me, as if he said, that we must take away all the appurtenances of evil. For if we retain any thing of it, we shall be always condemned. What must we do then? we must walk uprightly. There is nothing which God hateth so much as a double heart,2 as the scripture saith.