A17698:467
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.
We must not bear our selves on hand that we hold God bound unto us, and that we shall make him to grant all our desires: for what a malapertness were that? And what an honouring of God were it, if every man should say, I trow God will do whatsoever I list to command him? But we must rest upon his promises. Ye see then that faith is requisite in our prayers: that is to wit, that no man thrust forth himself upon his own head, but that having the promise whereby God allureth us unto him, we go unto him boldly, not doubting but that he will keep touch with us. Seeing it is so: we must note now that all our prayers are faulty, if they be not ruled by the will of God. For when we presume to ask of him whatsoever comes in our head, there is no promise for us to trust unto in going to it so without advise. And therefore forasmuch as we pass our bounds, we be never a whit furthered by it. Thus ye see that in praying we must always consider what god permitteth us, & what his will is that ⟨p. 99⟩we should ask of him: and that we must ever have this modesty and soberness with us to ask counsel of him, as though his spirit spake in us, and indited unto us the very form of our prayer.1 And for that cause hath our Lord Jesus Christ made as it were a sum of all the requests which we ought to make unto God. For although we be not tied to those words, to say hollowed be the name of God, his kingdom §10come, his will be done, &c. yet must we refer all our desires, wishes and requests to those six articles, which are contained in the prayer that our Lord Jesus Christ hath given unto us. And although the Fathers of old time had not the same rule; yet were they always governed by Gods spirit, to keep them from wandering from the things that are taught us at this day, so as all their prayers were conformable to the rule that our Lord Jesus Christ hath given us. Now then we see, that all such as §20take leave to pray what they list, do not direct themselves to God as they ought to do, and therefore are they likewise disappointed of their desires. And for the same cause is it, that I have told you, that in all our prayers we must be well advised, that the things be lawful according to Gods word. But now there are some things which God hath promised without exception, and those we may demand without condition.