A17698:3451
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 hereupon it is said, Look down therefore O Lord from thine holy dwelling place, even from heaven, upon thy people Israel, and bless them in the land which thou hast promised and sworn to give them, in the person of our fathers. Hereby God meant not to say that the people should ground themselves upon their own merits: but he meant to stir up the faithful to walk simply in his fear if they would have him for his part to continue his benefits and his blessings towards them. This would be dark if it should not be laid forth more plainly. In deed all that ever ⟨p. 909⟩God promiseth unto us, proceedeth from his own free bestowed goodness. But yet for all that he will not have us to neglect our duty, and to abuse his promises, as if we might bind him unto us, and we in the mean time be his enemies: he will not have us to spit in his face and to pin him in the mean time to our sleeve & say. Thou must show thy self a father unto us, although we be not thy children: thou must be at peace with us, although we make war against §10thee. No, we may not dally so with God. But will we enjoy his favour unto the end? Will we have him to continue beneficial unto us? Let us take heed then that we serve and honour him, let us take heed that we walk according unto that whereunto he hath called us: for we must always bear this saying of his in mind, Turn ye unto me,1 and I will turn unto you. God saith that •e turneth himself from us, when he letteth us alone, and taketh his blessings from us, and hath §20no pity on us, nor heareth us though we call upon him, but giveth us up for a pray, both unto the devil and unto all our enemies. For when we turn our backs unto him, it is good reason that he should also forget us. Nevertheless he willeth us to turn unto him, and he will turn •nto us, that is to say, if we walk in his fear, he will never forget us, but we shall feel his hand ready to aide and help us in all our needs and necessities. This is is the common doctrine of §30the holy scripture. And according hereunto it is said in this place, Lord, seeing we have wall[…] in thy commandments, look thou also mercifully upon thy people, and bless thine inheritance, and the land which thou hast promised unto our fathers.