A17698:850
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.
Moreover let us mark also, that this love cannot be in us, until we have tasted of the goodness of our God. For so long as we imagine God to be against us, we must needs shun him. Will we then love him? will we frame our selves to the obeying of him, to take all our delight in serving of him? We must first know that he is our father and saviour, and that he seeketh nothing but to be favourable unto us. When we have so tasted his love towards us: then §40shall we be provoked to love him as our father.1 Insomuch that if that love be in us, no doubt but we will obey him, and his law shall reign in our minds, in our affections, and in all our members. For what is the cause why we be so disobedient unto God, but for that we hate him, as I said afore? So on the contrary part the love of God will draw us to serve him, and to submit our selves to his righteousness, so as men shall see a certain conformity and agreeableness §50betwixt Gods law and all our desires and affections. But yet for the better understanding hereof, let us consider what God is: For he will not be known according to our nature. And when we hear him spoken of, it is not enough for us to give him the title of God: but he will be known as he is in deed: that is to wit, to be righteous and good, as the perfection and fountain of all wisdom, of all power, of all right, and of all equity. Now then let us conceive §60God as he is: that is to wit, with his justice, righteousness and equity: and then shall we not desire any thing else than to fashion our selves like to him. Contrariwise if we love naughtiness and be wrapped in it, we must needs hate God. For why? Here is no talk of a naked being: we must not imagine God to be as an idol: we must conceive him with his righteousness and equity. Therefore when we hate the things that are in God, that is to say his justice and righteousness: we must needs hate his own self: for he cannot forsake himself, he cannot disguise himself,2 he cannot transform himself after our fashion: he continueth evermore like himself. So then, (as I said afore) all such as love God, need not be afraid that they shall not obey his Law and keep his commandments: for they be things united and unseparable. That is the thing which we have to mark upon this place.