A17698:735
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, that we may fare the better by it, we have to mark first of all, that when God calleth us to be of his Church, so as he maketh us partakers of the Gospel, and of the things depending upon the same: it is not for that we went to him aforehand,§30 but because he hath chosen us. The word Chose is set down here to express the better that that thing came not of the people themselves, but that God was the first beginner thereof. That is one point which we ought to mark well. For it is not only here that the holy Ghost speaketh thereof: but all the whole scripture is full of that doctrine: namely, of telling us that we must not seek the cause of our salvation in our selves, as who should say we were better than other §40men.1 We see that God giveth not his graces indifferently to all men: but that to set the greater show upon his goodness, he giveth that thing to one man which he denieth to another. We see that most men are destitute of the Gospel at this day: and we see that even where it is preached, most folk are as good as blind and deaf still. Now when the Gospel is preached in any place, it is a kind of choosing, and it is the very same that Moses §50speaks of here. Seeing then that God causeth his word to rain upon us, so as we have our fill of it every day: and in the mean season other much greater, richer, and nobler Cities want it and are destitute of it: let us understand that this so great benefit cometh not of our own seeking, neither have we obtained it by our own travel or policy: but it is GOD that hath chosen us to it of his own mercy. Mark that for one point.
Nowe, that we may fare the better by it, wee haue to marke first of all, that when God calleth vs to be of his Church, so as he maketh vs partakers of the Gospell, and of the things depending vpon the same: it is not for yt we went to him aforehād,§30 but because he hath chosē vs. The word Chose is set down here to expresse the better that that thing came not of the people themselues, but that God was the first beginner therof. That is one point which wee ought to marke wel. For it is not onely here that the holy Ghost speaketh thereof: but all the whole scripture is full of that doctrine: namely, of telling vs that we must not seeke the cause of our saluation in our selues, as who shoulde say wee were better than other