A17698:841
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 it be demanded why GOD useth mercy after that manner towards the one sort and rigour towards the other: truly the first cause thereof is unknown to us, and we ought not to be inquisitive of it. And why?§60 for it becometh our wits to be locked up and imprisoned in that behalf, and we ought to confess that God hath free power to choose whom he listeth and to cast away the rest. But howsoever the case stand, he maketh this promise to the faithful, that he will have mercy upon their children: and that as he hath begun his mercy upon the parents themselves, so he will hold out with it continually unto a thousand generations. We see now that there is some cause why God hath pity upon the one sort rather than upon the other. Again on the contrary part, he threateneth the unbelievers that he will curse them, not only in themselves, but also in their race, and in those that shall spring of them.
Nowe if it bee demaunded why GOD vseth mercie after that manner towardes the one sorte and rigour towardes the other: truely the first cause thereof is vnknowen to vs, and wee ought not to bee inquisitiue of it. And why?§60 for it becommeth our wittes to bee locked vp and imprisoned in that behalfe, and wee ought to confesse that God hath free power to choose whom hee listeth and to cast away the rest. But howsoeuer the case stande, hee maketh this promise to the faithfull, that hee will haue mercie vppon their children: and that as hee hath begunne his mercie vppon the parentes themselues, so hee will holde out with it continually vnto a thousande generations. We see nowe that there is some cause why God hath pitie vppon the one sort rather than vppon the other. Againe on the contrarie part, he threateneth the vnbeleeuers that he will curse them, not onely in themselues, but also in their rase, and in those that shall spring of them.
But now let us come to the mercy that God granteth, and to the punishment that he extendeth. His blessing of the faithful folks children, is not in riches, in health, and in all other such things, or in making them to prosper to the world ward: Those are not the greatest blessings which God granteth: that is not the end which he beginneth at: but rather the mercy that he showeth them, is that he governeth them by his holy spirit, that he giveth them the badge of his adopted children, and that he correcteth them and purgeth them from their sins, to fashion them again after his own image. Ye see then that the mercy which God extendeth towards the children of the faithful, is that he suffereth them not to abide in their own corruption and naughtiness, but reformeth and ruleth them by his holy spirit. This done, he proceedeth yet further, and maketh them to prosper, even in this world, until the full measure of his mercy be heaped upon them, that is to wit, till he have taken them up into his heavenly kingdom, and there given them everlasting life.