A17698:4190
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.
And if this doctrine was true as in respect of the Land of Canaan: what shall it be in respect of our coming to the immortality of the heavenly glory? The people of Israel could not obtain the land of Canaan by their own deseruing•, but GOD was fain to love them even of his own mere mercy, wherethrough he did them all the good that they received at his hand. Yet notwithstanding, that land was nothing in comparison of the immortal life. Whereas it is said that we be reformed after the image of God, to be partakers of his glory, and that ⟨p. 1118⟩we be his heirs, and companions to the Angels, yea and to our Lord Jesus Christ: it is a far other thing than the land of Canaan and the sustenance that is given us for this transitory life. And therefore let us understand that men are worse than blind, yea and more than mad, when they think to attain to so great a good thing by their own deserts. Yet notwithstanding, we see how this devilish opinion hath reigned and had full scope in the world, and how the Papists §10are still at the same point at this day, that when the inheriting of paradise is talked of, [they say] that men must purchase it by their own merits. And in the mean while they consider not how the immortal life is named an inheritance, because it dependeth upon Gods free adoption. And whereon is Gods free adoption grounded,1 but upon his choosing of us before the world was made; I say upon his choosing of us, even of us which were forlorn as well as the rest of the whole §20world? For we know we be all cursed in Adam. Again, what is the cause that he chooseth us, who were like to those whom he rejecteth? What is the cause that he proceedeth yet still in drawing us unto him? Shall we find the cause thereof in our selves? Alas no: but we must discharge our selves of all overweening, and repair to the foresaid fountain of his free goodness. And therefore let us bear well in mind, that here we be warned, that we must not seek the cause of our salvation §30in our selves nor of any of all the benefits which God bestoweth upon us, no not even in respect of this present life: and therefore that we can much less seek the cause or ground of the promised immortality, in our selves or in our own deserts, but that we must magnify his mere goodness in that behalf.