A17698:892
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.
But now it may be demanded, why the Jews were commanded to rest but only the seventh day: for our renouncing of our own thoughts & affections, must not be for one day in a week:§10 but we must continue in that mind all the time of our life. To be short, the rest that God commandeth us is everlasting, and not by pangs or fits as they say. And why then close he but one day of the week? It was to show us, that when we have done what we can to renounce our wicked lusts, our false pretences, and whatsoever else is of our own nature: yet shall we never be able to attain fully thereunto, till we be quite & clean bereft of our flesh. True it is the faithful ought to keep a §20continual Sabbath all their life long, by forbearing their own wills and works, & by endeavouring to give themselves over unto God with all humility & submission, so as they may obey him quietly: I say we must do so, or else all the service that we be desirous to do unto God, shall be but a feigning, & he will disallow it & reject it. Nevertheless we cannot so discharge our selves in renouncing our affections, but that there will always be somewhat worthy of blame in us. S. Paul doth in deed glory §30that the world was crucified unto him,1 & he unto the world: but yet for all that, he ceaseth not to say, that his flesh fighteth against his spirit, so as there is never any agreement betwixt them. Yea and he confesseth in the seventh to the Romans, that he felt such strife continually in himself,2 as he did not the good that he would have done, that is to say, he performed it not with so earnest affection, nor was so fully determined to walk according to the will of God, but that he had always some lets to hinder him, so §40as to his own seeming, instead of running strongly, he did but go limpingly. Sith it is so: let us mark that Gods ordaining of the seventh day to rest in, was not without cause: for thereby he doth us to understand, that we cannot attain to the perfect holiness which he requireth at our hands, neither in one day, nor in one month. Why so? Because that when we have fought never so lustily against the affections of our flesh, & against our wicked thoughts: there will always remain some dregs still,