A17698:849
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.
He sayeth that he will show mercy in a thousand descents to such a• love him. And why? For it is unpossible that we should be desirous to honour God and to be obedient unto him, unless we have felt the love that is spoken of here. And this may serve us for a good lesson: according as we shall see hereafter, how Moses intending to give us a brief sum of the Law, saith: What §10doeth the Lord thy God require of thee O Israel,1 but that thou shouldest love him with all thy hart, & that thou shouldest stick unto him? Never (say I) do we know what it is to keep Gods Law, and to behave our selves thereafter, unless we begin at the said love. And why? For God requireth willing service. He will not have us to serve him,2 only upon a slavish fear: but he will have us to go to it with a free and cheerful courage,3 that we may even take §20pleasure in honouring him: and that cannot be done without we love him. Wherefore let us mark, that the beginning and as it were the wellspring, foundation, and root of obedience, is the said love of God, so as we be not forced to come unto him, but have a singular pleasure in doing it, assuring our selves that our true blessedness is to desire to be governed altogether according to his will, and to frame our selves wholly thereunto.
He saieth that hee will shewe mercie in a thousand descentes to such a• loue him. And why? For it is vnpossible that wee shoulde bee desirous to honour God and to bee obedient vnto him, vnlesse wee haue felt the loue that is spoken of heere. And this may serue vs for a good lesson: according as we shall see hereafter, howe Moses intending to giue vs a briefe summe of the Lawe, saith: What §10doeth the Lorde thy God require of thee O Israel,1 but that thou shouldest loue him with all thy hart, & that thou shouldest sticke vnto him? Neuer (say I) doe we knowe what it is to keepe Gods Law, and to behaue our selues thereafter, vnlesse wee beginne at the saide loue. And why? For God requireth willing seruice. Hee will not haue vs to serue him,