A17698:4162
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.
Now let us nowadays be well advised, and seeing that God having called us to him, hath given us the mark of his free bestowed adoption, that is to say baptism, whereby he doth us to wit that we be reckoned for members of Jesus Christ, and be as it were grafted into his body: let us be well advised I say, that we boast not thereof in vain. For if we despise God in living undiscreetely, and falsify the faith that we have plighted unto him: let us not think that he is so bound unto us, but that he may forsake us, and that for all our boasting of our selves to be his children, he will tell us plainly (as we hear in this place,) that we belong not unto him at all, but that we be utter strangers unto him. For (as sayeth Saint Paul) all that come of Abraham's linage are not accounted his seed,1 that is to say, they be not spiritual children. To be short, will we have God to avow us for his children? Let us beware that we walk in his fear and love. At a word, let us take him for our father, and show it by our deeds: and then shall we be acknowledged to be his children. But if he see us grow out of kind, he must needs tell us that seeing we have not kept our faith and troth towards him, he will have no company with us. For what a bondage were it, if God should take us for his children, and in the mean while be scorned & misused among us, so as his grace should be trodden under foot, and his holy name defiled? Should God then mingle himself ⟨p. 1111⟩with our filth and uncleanness, when we be so full of unbelief? No: For then should he renounce his own nature, which is unpossible.
Nowe let vs nowadayes bee well aduised, and seeing that God hauing called vs to him, hath giuen vs the marke of his free bestowed adoption, that is to say baptisme, wherby he doth vs to wit that wee bee reckened for members of Iesus Christ, and be as it were graffed into his bodie: let vs bee well aduised I say, that wee boast not thereof in vaine. For if wee despise God in liuing vndiscreetely, and falsifie the faith that we haue plighted vnto him: let vs not thinke that he is so bounde vnto vs, but that hee may forsake vs, and that for al our boasting of our selues to be his children, he will tell vs plainely (as wee heare in this place,) that wee belong not vnto him at all, but that wee bee vtter straungers vnto him. For (as saieth Sainct Paul) all that come of Abrahams linage are not accounted his seede,