A17698:521
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.
Therefore let us learn, that whensoever God matcheth promises with his commandments: it is to win us by gentleness, because he seeth us so slow as is pitiful, and therefore he allureth us as a father that flattereth his children as ye would say. That is the the thing which we have to gather here.
Therefore let vs learne, that whensoeuer God matcheth promises with his commaundementes: it is to win vs by gentlenesse, because hee seeth vs so slowe as is pitifull, and therefore he allureth vs as a father that flattereth his children as ye would say. That is the ye thing which wee haue to gather here.
Now if we consider this lesson well: we shall not say as the Papists do▪ That seeing God promiseth reward to such as shall have served him, it appeareth thereby that we deserve, and that God is as well bound unto us, as we to him. But clean contrariwise, Gods promising us, to do us good, is not for that our service can deserve aught at his hand, nor for that he is or can be beholden to us for any thing: but his showing of himself so free-hearted towards us as to forbear his own right, proceedeth of his own free bestowed goodness, as I have declared ⟨p. 112⟩afore. Surely the Papists do well show themselves to be puffed up with devilish pride, when they presume after that sort to abuse Gods fatherly goodness. He could do no more, except he should make us cockneys as I have said already: and yet notwithstanding, mortal men which are but carrion and dung, fall to advancing of themselves and say it is a token that God is bound unto them. Now then let us bear in mind, that the promises which GOD §10setteth afore us to provoke and encourage us to do him service, serve not to show that he oweth us any thing, or that we can deserve aught at his hand: but they be a record unto us of his free bestowed goodness, inasmuch as he bindeth himself to us of his own good will, notwithstā ding that he can not be any way indebted unto us.