A17698:83
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.
When there is any talk of doing good or of serving God, the Papists imagine by and by that men earn the kingdom of heaven by their own deserts or merits: but the holy scripture holdeth the clean contrary order, as we see here. For why? It is not said that men bind God to them by their meritorious deeds: but after that the inheritance is set before them, and that of free gift: and after ⟨p. 11⟩it is showed them, that nothing beareth sway in that behalf but only Gods goodness: then is it said unto them, March forward. And so we learn to do good, and to give our selves to the serving of God, & to become holy through his righteousness: not of purpose to make him beholden unto us, but to follow his holy calling, least we should reject his grace, howbeit that we cannot stir one finger without Gods working in us by his holy spirit. For whereas §10it is said, Get ye hence and march forward: it is not for that the people was able so to do: but when God hath once in couraged us, he printeth his doctrine in our hearts, and to the intent the same should not be unavailable, he quickeneth us up: and to be short, he worketh so mightily in us, that after he hath once given us willingness, he giveth us also performance therewithal, according as S. Paul avoucheth in the second to the Philippians.1 Yet for all this, we §20must bear well in mind the thing that I have touched already: which is, that Gods offering of his grace unto us, is not to the end we should as it were fall asleep and make none account of it: but to the end we should be quickened up to do good,2 according to this saying, that his goodness and love which he beareth towards men, is uttered to the intent to purchase him a holy people fit for good works, and [to the end] that we should walk in all pureness,§30 waiting for the discovery of the life which he hath promised us. And if this had place under the shadows of the law: much more must we do it now in these days.
When there is any talke of doing good or of seruing God, the Papists imagine by and by that men earne the kingdome of heauen by their owne desertes or merites: but the holy scripture holdeth the cleane contrary order, as wee see here. For why? It is not sayde that men bynde God to them by their meritorious deedes: but after that the inheritance is set before them, and that of free gift: and after