A17698:3962
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.
But indeed this is not common to all: for there be many which continue froward, and are utterly cut off from the Church, and from all hope of salvation. And therefore seeing that the world is unreformable. Let us look well about us that we be not comprised in the number of them: and when God maketh us to feel his wrath, let us so feel it: as it cause us not to defy him, & to vomit our blasphemies as many do; but to bring us in mind of our sins, and to make us ashamed of them; and moreover, that therewithal we may be assured to find mercy in our GOD: for without that, it is impossible that we should have any desire to turn unto him. As for those which think that God will not be merciful unto them, albeit that they do acknowledge their sins, yet will they squat them down in their filthiness, and they can never be delivered or dispatched from them. And why so? Because they run away from God, neither is it possible to make them to come near him; for that they have none understanding of his fatherly goodness, nor be ascertained that he is ready to receive them unto him. Hereby we see, how the devil hath reigned and yet doeth reign in the Popedom. For they talk much of repentance, but the wretched sinners are still left in doubt. In deed ⟨p. 1051⟩they give them many plasters; howbeit not to purge away the inward uncleanness; but rather to qualify, and to sweeten the sore on the outside, which inwardly continueth still: whereupon they become drunken with this foolish opinion, of satisfying God, & that thereby they deserve and make full amends. Thus the wretched Papists do their endeavour to reconcile themselves to God, but with what certainty? None at all: all is haphazard. Again they allege the §10keys of the Church; but those keys, be Pardons, Satisfactions, and Indulgences, and Merits before God, but no promise at all. Now contrariwise we must understand, that, for to have true repentance, it is behovefull that God do declare unto us his fatherly love, and that in making our repair to him we be fully certified that we shall not be disappointed, nor have the gate shut against us. How so? Moses hath spoken obscurely of the Redeemer, for the time §20was not yet come that the plain declaration should be made thereof. At this day Jesus Christ doeth call us, and we understand what the Apostle sayeth;1