A17698:3471
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 to account all these things utterly unfallible? Is that presumptuousness? Nay, it is rather true obedience; & obedience importeth humbleness. In deed there is in this behalf a kind of boldness; §50and S. Paul also joineth those two together in 3. Chap.1 to the Ephesians, saying. By faith which we have in Christ Jesus, we have trust given us with boldness & hardiness to come unto God. Faith therefore engendereth boldness: but this boldness proceedeth not of pride; but rather thereby we learn our humbleness in that we receive quietly that which God telleth us, & accept it, as a thing whereof we ought not to doubt. That is the first extremity, which reigneth too too shamefully §60among the Papists. But what do they in the mean time? They have their devotions every man after his own fancy. I will do this, & I will do that. I must win heaven; I must make satisfaction for my sins in such wise & such. God is just, & think we that seeing he is just, he will deny us our hire when we shall have served him? And although we serve him not in full perfectness, yet he will like of that which we shall do, or else he should be cruel & unjust, if he should not accept of our service: and if there be any default in it, we will make an amends for it: for we have means to satisfy him. Nay we will do more than he hath commanded us; we will take upon us to keep his law, but yet will we have some farther devotion in store, & it cannot be but that all this must be taken into our accounts; for whatsoever is done upon a good intent cannot be bad: neither ought God also to reject it. See how the Papists plead with God, not only as with their match, but also as with some little play fellow: & if he like not of all that they do, & account it good, he shall be condemned although he declare that he disliketh of it all & say, I will not put it into my account; Deceive not your selves, it is utter abomination unto me. No sir (say they) you will like of it well enough for all that; you cannot but accept of it, seeing we think it to be good. After that manner do the Papists talk. In deed they will not use those very words; but yet is it the very effect of their doctrine, without adding one syllable thereunto. And surely it is a devilish presumption, when men take so highly upon them as to make God believe that whatsoever they have devised, is good, & that he must needs receive it: