A17698:3588
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 herewithal we have to mark, that seeing God promiseth nothing, but unto them that have obeyed all the law, it were too doltish folly to suppose that we can merit or deserve by doing this §30thing or that thing: we must first of all have kept all the law, which is impossible. And whereas the Papists prate of their merits, enabling themselves to purchase the kingdom of heaven; they think that when they have done any good to their own seeming, God is bound to them, Oh (say they) I have been devoutly at Mass. It is certain that they provoke the wrath of God by so doing: for we know that it is a devilish abomination. Again, I have served such a Saint my Patron (say §40they,) I have builded such a Chapel: and they bear themselves in hand that in so doing they earn heaven. Truly all these things are but a spiting of God: they be devilish superstitions, whereby the service of God is quite defaced. But put the case that the Papists did well in their dallying so with such pelting stuff: were God ever the more bound unto them for it? It would behove them to consider first before what notary that evidence did pass. For it is not for us to bridle §50him, or to tie him to the stake, or to subdue him to our fantasies. It must proceed of his own good will. Now then▪ what saith he? When you shall have kept all my commandments, then shall these blessings come upon you. Let every of us look how he hath kept the commandments of God. Let the Papists brag as much as they list, can they say that they have accomplished the hundred part of them? If they have kept one of Gods commandments, they have offended him in a hundred sins for it:§60 & if there be but one fault committed, though it be never so little a one, they be faulty in all, according as S. James saith: he that faileth in any one only point,1 is a breaker of the whole law. Seeing then that they be offenders, they are deprived & banished from all the blessings that God hath set forth, yea even that concern but this present transitory life: much less therefore are they able to win the kingdom of heaven (as they imagine) being not able to deserve one morsel of bread to put into their mouth. Thus are they shut out of all. And why? For God hath not promised any thing but unto them that keep all his whole law. How shall we do then? We must hear God speak after an other fashion: to wit: