A17698:4406
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 that is the cause why Moses saith, Let your children keep the word; and again, let them observe it. True it is that we can neither keep Gods word nor do it; until he have written it in our hearts. But Moses presupposeth that God will shed out his holy spirit upon the people, so they shut not the door against him, but be ready to receive the grace which our Lord had promised them, as we have seen heretofore,1 where he saith; Behold, the word §10is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart. And not without cause doth Saint Paul say that this word is the same which is preached in the Gospel,2 because Gods speaking there is not to make a noise in our ears only, but also to engrave the doctrine in our hearts by his holy spirit, which is brought unto us. So then let us mark well, that whereas Moses treateth here of the keeping of Gods word, God also doeth bind himself to his people, with condition §20that he will govern them by his holy spirit, and write his word in their hearts: and moreover when he hath so touched them, he will also be favourable to them in bearing with their infirmities and in forgiving their sins. And after that manner do we perform GODS word: not that we can accomplish it and do it throughly: for we be so far unable to perform the law, that we cannot so much as think one good thought.3 Nay rather we drag §30back from that which God commandeth us: we be enemies to all righteousness and upright dealing. God therefore must be fain to bow us, and to give us such teachableness as we may be ready to hear his word. And moreover when he hath granted us the grace to have such zeal and affection, he must also bear with us in that we have not done our endeavour to do the things which he hath appointed us; & whereas we be disobedient, and therefore §40he might justly punish us, yet notwithstanding he must be fain to receive us to mercy, and to give us our pardon for our Lord Jesus Christs sake. And although the fathers of old time had not so great and so evident teaching as we have nowadays by the Gospel: yet did they know that our Lord had promised them both the grace of his holy spirit and also his mercy, to the forgiving of thei sins. For the sacrifices which were offered in