A17698:4002
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.
Are we now come unto Jesus Christ? It behooveth us to know the principal thing that is given us in him, to wit, that we be redeemed by his death and passion; for he hath suffered the pains that were due unto us, and hath borne that dreadful vengeance of God, which belonged unto us, and hath thereby made us free. That then is the benefit which we reap by the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ: and by his resurrection he hath purchased righteousness and life for us: and hath also opened unto us the kingdom of heaven, from the which we were erst banished. Now first of all, when we call to mind the death, and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must needs be delivered from all anguish and distress of mind. For he telleth us (as it is said here) that it is not for us to allege any more; Who shall go down into hell? (as we have been wont ⟨p. 1063⟩to do.) Howe now? If all sinners must be condemned before God: seeing that we be sinners; surely we be all undone. And who is he that can assure me that hell shall have no power over me? I feel the sin which doth accuse me, and that is all one as if I should behold the gulf open ready to swallow me up; Satan hath gotten the mastery over me. See how men are dismayed and plunged in continual grief and trouble of mind, until they §10have received knowledge of the benefit that cometh by the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. But we know that our Lord Jesus suffered the sorrows of hell, and yet was not holden prisoner of the same (as Saint Peter showeth in the Acts:)1 whereby we be well assured, that the bands of death are broken, and that hell hath no more power to swallow us. And why? Because the Lord Jesus hath purchased us freedom. But how know we that? By the §20Gospel. But if I still stand in doubt whether I be delivered from the curse of God; it is as much as if I should draw Christ again from death: for he is not dead in vain. To what end is it? Let us consider a little wherefore the only son of God yielded himself to such shame; as to be hanged on tree, and to be as it were accursed before God his father, (according as we have seen even in the one and twentieth Chapter of this book,) and to be §30beaten by the hand of God,