A17698:3580
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.
Thus then have we cause to be twice the more lowly. First of all, for that we be so lewd, that Gods goodness moveth us not to come near him, and to put our selves under his leading: And secondly for that we search not out the bottom of the sin that is in us, after this manner: Alas, seeing I have every day so in numerable thoughts, so many desires and motions, such store of affections, which serve altogether to turn me away from that good whereunto God doeth call ⟨p. 944⟩me: by reason whereof I cease not to offend God in all things, so as nothing can be drawn from me, but utter evil, all offence, and all iniquity: alas in what taking am I? Men, when they see this, must needs feel themselves double confounded. And when they have well examined themselves, [they must needs be driven to think thus,] Well, God hath laid before me all the means that I can wish, for to attain salvation, if I were not altogether §10corrupt and perverse. And now cannot I plead ignorance, seeing that the law is given unto me, and the way showed me, how I ought to govern me and how to lead my life. And to the end that I should be the more willing thereunto; my God traineth me to it by gentleness, promising that I shall be rewarded for serving him. Is it so? What is then to be done? I must not in this case make any further protestation, nor stand pleading any more against §20GOD: for I am too much too blame already. Now when men find themselves thus condemned, then are they forced to seek their salvation out of themselves, and to resort to this second remedy; Alas Lord, if the case were so that I should obtain salvation by serving of thee, thou hast given me thy law, and also joined thereunto thy promises; howbeit these things avail me nothing: I must therefore forsake my self, acknowledging that I am quite §30shut out of all hope of life, unless I find some other better help. See here I say, how we be led to our Lord Jesus Christ, and made to embrace the grace which is offered unto us in him that by obtaining forgiveness of our sins, we may be sure to be blessed of God. When we have once gotten that favour, that God is at one with us by means of our Lord Jesus Christ; then doeth he accept our unperfect works, as though we had §40accomplished all the law.