A17698:3972
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.
for we shall not fail to be evermore debtors, as we have said: and yet we §60must note also, that the unabilitie which is in us, proceedeth of our fault. Yet notwithstanding the Papists allege, that it were a cruelty in God to require of us to do more than we can. It seemeth indeed, that God ought to be contented; if a man do what he can. Now then if we cannot have a good desire,1 and if we have yet less power, that we cannot so much as think a good thought; wherefore doth God constrain us to love him perfectly? There seemeth to be no upright dealing in it. But we must repair to our original sin, which hindereth us so as we serve not God no nor have not the will to serve him. Indeed God hath imprinted a will in us by nature,2 and for as much as we are men, we have a discretion to discern good and evil, whereby we be inexcusable: and when we sin, it cometh not of compulsion, neither are we forced by other means; but it proceedeth of our own will and inclination. But now let us see whether our will can bend it self both the ways, and is able to choose either good or evil? No. For we be captives under sin:3 and whence cometh this captivity and bondage? From the offence of Adam. Seeing therefore that the evil is in our selves; we must not seek for fond and unprofitable excuses, for we shall win nothing thereby; but let us stoop and condemn our selves. If God therefore require aught of us, he doth us no wrong; and yet notwithstanding, men may not reply that they be feeble and weak, for the evil shall evermore be imputed unto them, & they shall be found guilty thereof. But now let us come back to the matter which we have touched. The holy scripture setteth before us the law of God as the thing which we ought to follow; and that is our rule. We for our part do draw clean contrary. Whereto then serveth the law of God so long as it is but a dead letter, that is to say, so long as we have but our ears beaten therewith, or so long as it is written but in paper & parchment, or in stones as this was, as it is in deed so long as it is but preached unto us? It serveth but to our condemnation, so as we be there convicted and can no more plead ignorance: but rather show our selves open rebels, in that we bow not down our necks, to receive the yoke which God hath ordained for us.