A17698:1014
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.
We have seen heretofore, that it is not lawful for us in any wise to vex our neighbours in their persons, or to do them any damage in their goods. Notwithstanding for as much as harm may be done by the tongue: God hath vouchsafed to make mention of it also in his Law, as we see in this text. Now then like as heretofore he forbade the doing of any outrage §60to our neighbours, (which thing he comprehended under the word Murder:) & likewise all grieving of them and all annoying of them by any means in their goods: so he showeth here that we must not speak evil of them, nor use any such words as may cast any blemish or stain upon them. It is true that he speaketh expressly of False witness: howbeit, that is according to the rule that I have set down, namely that he setteth forth the things foremost which we ought most to mislike, to the intent we should mislike the sins that come near them. Then if we speak evil of our neighbours, so as we slander them: although it be not taken for a grievous sin before men: yet doeth God take it for a false witnessing. But here a man might demand a question, why GOD speaketh here of false witnessing and perjury: seeing he had already said▪ Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. For it seemeth to be a needless repetition. For in so short a sum of the law, where there be not above ten sentences, it seemeth unconuenient ⟨p. 236⟩to repeat one thing twice. But we must mark that the things which have been set down heretofore, concerning the not taking of Gods name in vain: were in the first table, where GOD respected only the Majesty of his name, to the intent it should be had in reverence. Therefore whensoever we speak of God, we must think upon the infinite glory that is in him, that we may never open our mouth but with reverence and humility.§10 And whether we intend to swear, or to speak of him in any other wise: we must ever think that his name is to be reverenced, and that we must not fling it forth at adventure. Thus much concerning the things that we have seen already upon this matter. Now God speaketh of another thing: namely of the not hurting or harming of our neighbours in any wise by our wicked tongue. So then, in as much as there is a double intent: we see now §20that these two sentences differ, & also that there is no superfluity at all.