A17698:522
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 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.
Now if wee consider this lesson well: wee shal not say as the Papists doe▪ That seeing God promiseth reward to such as shall haue serued him, it appeareth thereby yt we deserue, and that God is as wel bound vnto vs, as we to him. But cleane contrariwise, Gods promising vs, to doe vs good, is not for that our seruice can deserue aught at his hand, nor for that hee is or can be beholden to vs for any thing: but his shewing of himselfe so freeharted towardes vs as to forbeare his owne right, proceedeth of his owne free bestowed goodnesse, as I haue declared ⟨p. 112⟩afore. Surely the Papistes doe well shew themselues to be puffed vp with diuelish pride, when they presume after that sorte to abuse Gods fatherly goodnesse. He could doe no more, except he should make vs cockneyes as I haue sayd already: and yet notwithstanding, mortall men which are but carion and dung, fall to aduauncing of themselues and say it is a token that God is bound vnto them. Now then ler vs beare in minde, that the promises which GOD