A17698:736
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.
1Again, whereas it pleaseth him to give us faith, so as we taste of his word, and are throughly fed with it, and it toucheth us inwardly at the very heart: let us understand that it is a second sort of choosing which god maketh of us. So then, let us yield him his deserved praise, for in withholding it from him we be traitors to him, and we bereave him of the thing that belongeth alonely unto him: and in so doing we set up our selves as Idols in his stead. For a man cannot take a greater honour to himself, than to bear himself in hand that he is the author of his own salvation, and that it is he that preventeth God. If we imagine so, it is a defacing of Gods glory. And therefore let us bear this lesson well in mind.
1Againe, whereas it pleaseth him to giue vs faith, so as we tast of his word, and are throughly fed with it, and it toucheth vs inwardly at the very heart: let vs vnderstand that yt is a second sort of chosing which god maketh of vs. So then, let vs yelde him his deserued praise, for in withholding it from him we bee traitors to him, and wee bereaue him of the thing that belongeth alonely vnto him: and in so doing wee set vp our selues as Idols in his steede. For a man cannot take a greater honour to himselfe, than to beare himselfe in hand that he is the author of his own saluation, and that it is he that preuenteth God. If wee imagin so, it is a defacing of Gods glorie. And therfore let vs beare this lessō well in mind.
- 1Eph. 2.8.
Howbeit forasmuch as men are malicious, & when they cannot abolish Gods praise altogether, they darken it as much as they can: Moses excludeth here expressly all worthiness of persons, and all desert of works, in saying, it is the love of God. For it is not enough for us to know that God hath chosen us to himself: but we must also know what it is that moved him thereto, and how he was induced thereunto. Did he seek the cause of it out of himself? No: but his own love was the cause that he chose us. Now when the scripture speaketh of Gods love: it meaneth that free favour which he beareth towards us, so as he respecteth not our persons nor services, nor aught else that we can bring. Sith it is so, let us consider here Gods goodness two ways. For first of all when we have his Gospel preached among us, and his Sacraments, whereby he gathereth us as it were into his fold, and showeth himself to be our shepherd: it is (say I) a choosing of us, for the which we be greatly bound unto him: in so much that our maliciousness must needs be cast in our teeth, and be called to account to receive horrible vengeance, if we make no reckoning of so great a grace as he hath bestowed upon us. Therefore let us make much of the benefit that we enjoy,