A17698:3560
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.
Moreover it behoveth us now to see in what taking we should be, if this Curse should take place upon us. Certain it is that all men are here denounced accursed. And this curse importeth as much as if it were said, that all are damned, all are lost, all are forlorn. Take the righteousest persons that ever were in the world; and by this sentence they deserve to §20be cast away. There is neither Abraham, not any of the patriarchs: nor David, nor all the Prophets, that can be exempted from this condemnation. God by his Prophet avoucheth Job,1 Daniel, and Samuel for the righteousest, and for such as were in manner unblamable: & yet must even they also be wrapped in this same curse. And as for David,2 he confesseth it with his own mouth, saying: Lord, enter not into account with thy Servant, for no man living shall be §30justified in thy sight. There David speaketh not of the common people only; but he putteth himself also in the number. True it is that in other places he declareth sufficiently, that it was his whole seeking to serve God; and that his desire tended that way: yet notwithstanding he acknowledged that he came far short of discharging himself, or of having such perfection as were requisite. If he yielded himself guilty as well as other men: what shall we do now? But §40here is a dreadful sentence, and such a one as ought to make the hairs stand stiff upon our heads: Cursed shall he be which performeth not all the words of this law. And who is he that speaketh this? It is God. Then is it such a definitive sentence, as admitteth no appeal from it. For he will have all men to confess it to be so; yea he will have every man to confess it with his own mouth. And what remaineth then for us to do? Where is the hope of salvation? Hereby we see, that if we §50had but the ten commandments of the law: we should utterly be undone & perish; and that it behoveth us to have recourse to his mercy, which out goeth his justice,3 as saith S. James. Gods goodness then must take place towards us, to deliver us from the confusion wherein all of us should have bin, if the said sentence should stand, and that there should be no grace to outgo it. And truly S. Paul in the third to the Galatians proveth by this text,