A17698:3999
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.
It is not therefore without cause that Saint Paul addeth this title unto the word:1 It is (saith he) the word of faith that we preach unto you. ⟨p. 1062⟩He calleth it the word of faith, when we not only know whereto we be bound, and understand what God exacteth and requireth of us, and what he commandeth us: but also, when we come to him as destitute of all goodness, beseeching him to vouchsafe to take pity of our want and neediness, and to enrich us with his graces. When we seek God in this manner, and ask of him that which we want: then have we the word of faith, and not the word §10of the Law. For the word of the Law saith, Do this and do that, and beware of such a thing, which if thou transgress, behold the curse is prepared for thee. By the word of the Law we see whereunto we are bound, but we be not able to discharge it; but we stand all confounded and damned. It behooveth us therefore to have the word of faith, that is to say, to taste of Gods promises, whereby he showeth himself so bountiful toward §20us through our Lord Jesus Christ. When we receive this as it is offered unto us in the Gospel; then is that fulfilled which is spoken here; to wit, that the word is not above the clouds, that it is not in the bottom of the deep, nor on the other side of the Sea: but in our mouth and in our heart. We have therefore to consider first of all, that God holdeth men sufficiently guilty, after he hath once taught them. For as soon as the word is preached, there is §30present condemnation to all them that cannot profit thereby, and there is no way for them to scape. And why? For God hath called us, and we have not answered him: he hath showed us the way, and we have not vouchsafed to enter therein: to be short, we see that when Gods word hath bin preached unto us, there is matter sufficient to reprove us, and we cannot reply unto it. But herewithall let us mark also, that as touching our §40part, the word of GOD is at it were aloft above the skies, or as if it were in the bottom of the deep, notwithstanding that we have our ears continually beaten therewith.