A17698:3637
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 this devilish arrogance is not only in matters concerning the nourishment of our bodies, but also touching the salvation of our souls. Whereupon is it, that freewill is grounded? Even upon this, that God requireth men to study and labour to do good, to withstand temptations, to have such a fervent zeal as to give them selves wholly unto him, & to forsake themselves. Forasmuch as God requireth all these things, it seemeth that we can do them. Yea but we consider not, that God for all his commanding, saith also that he worketh by his holy spirit, so as he is fain to write his laws in our harts,1 & to engrave them in our minds, and to make us walk according as he commandeth. O it is true, but yet therewithal, we also must do our endeavour. And whence cometh that endeavour? These wretches do not understand, that it is God that driveth us forward and stirreth us up, and that all the endeavouring wherewith men endeavour, is that they be instruments of the holy Ghost. Now then, forasmuch as under this colour of working we seek nothing else but to darken the grace of God, so much the more diligently ought we to note this doctrine, whereby GOD doth stir us up, and would have us to work, and yet showeth us therewithal that we cannot profit, unless he give us good success. Truly there is great difference betwixt the handy work, and that which the faithful do in endeavouring to live well. For (as I have said) men are created to labour by nature: but we be so wicked & froward, that in stead of obeying god▪ we be borne to nothing but to offend God, until he hath reformed us, and made us new creatures. So then God doth not only bless our labour, when we endeavour to serve him, through the grace of his holy spirit: but we labour also through his only virtue, according as he doth guide and govern us. This is the sum of that which we have to bear in mind concerning this text.
And this deuillish arrogancie is not onely in matters concerning the nourishment of our bodies, but also touching the saluatiō of our soules. Whereupon is it, that freewil is grounded? Euen vppon this, that God requireth men to studie and labour to doe good, to withstand temptations, to haue such a feruent zeale as to giue thē selues wholy vnto him, & to forsake themselues. Forasmuch as God requireth all these thinges, it seemeth that we can doe them. Yea but we consider not, that God for all his commaunding, sayth also that hee worketh by his holy spirite, so as he is faine to write his lawes in our harts,