A17698:3579
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.
In deed this matter was expounded yesterday, and this place was expressly alleged by Saint Paul, where it is said, that if salvation come by works,1 and the inheritance proceed of the law: then shall there be no performance of the promises. For we do fail on our part, and therefore the covenant is void, that God hath made with us: yet may it not hereby be concluded that God mocketh us, in setting down these promises: as the Papists do at the first dash, starting out of their bounds, and playing the mad men. For when it is said, that all the promises contained in wholly scriptures, be not effectual, otherwise than by mean of the forgiveness of our sins through the free goodness of God, and that we are justified by faith only: What (say they?) Seeing it is said, I will bless you, so you serve me and honour me▪ it seemeth that God useth but hypocrisy, and maketh a dalliance with men. To what purpose (saith he so?) Thus do the Papists accuse GOD of falsehood, and blaspheme him, if they be not able to deserve the promises which he hath made them. For otherwise [they think] it is but a mockery, to make men believe that he would bless them. But let us beware of such madness, and let us rather understand to what end God hath given his promises unto men: and we shall see that it is not in vain. I said heretofore, that God hath showed his great goodness, in humbling himself so lovingly unto us. We pertain wholly to him, we are altogether his, and yet would he not simply command; but command with promises, and gentleness to win us. If a man do hereupon reply and say, What doeth it profit us? Truly it profiteth us nothing at all▪ if we stay there: but we must go further. When we hear the promises that God hath offered unto us, & see that all his seeking is to win us through love, and that he meaneth not to enforce us through necessity, it condemneth us of unthankfulness, if we bend not ourselves wholly towards him. But we cannot do it. Wherefore? Are we then excused? No. For it is our own naughtiness that doth let us.2 Every man shal• condemn himself, saith Saint James, because there is nothing that provoketh us to evil, but the concupiscence of our own flesh. Seeing then that the fault is in us, we must make no more allegations, and here ye see we be confounded before God.