A17698:1021
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.
Howbeit let us mark by the way, that whereas it is said that love covereth the multitude of sins: it is not meant that we should flatter one another, and foster our vices by lying: but that we should not blow them abroad upon desire to defame the parties, who possibly might §60take such a stomach thereat, that they might give themselves over to all naughtiness through shamelessness, as desperate persons do. Wherefore let us mark well, that the holy Ghost intendeth not to make us flatterers and fosterers of our neighbours vices, nor yet liars: but that we should labour to reform their vices as much as we can, and yet notwithstanding bear with them, that we make them not desperate when they have done amiss. For when a man seeth himself defaced, and that it is done upon revenge: it spiteth him, & he giveth himself to the doing of evil, and so he hardeneth in it. Therefore when men are in an evil plight already, if we reprove them boisterously without any charitable affection: we cause them to disorder themselves the more. And therefore if we rebuke mens vices:1 let it be done with mildness, that the parties which are so rebuked may perceive that our meaning is to draw them back from the way of destruction. And for the same cause doth Saint James apply this text to such as labour to draw their neighbours to God,2 by good, gentle, and friendly corrections. Therefore if I see a man deal lewdly, and I tell him his fault, so as by my warning I win him, that he returneth into the right way: behold (saith he) then is this saying fulfilled, that love covereth the multitude of sins. True it is that Solomon speaketh it to another end: but yet hath not S. James misapplied this lesson of Solomons by a similitude, for he doeth us to understand, that our covering of mens sins, must not be by winking at them nor by holding of our peace when God is offended: (if a man destroy himself, we must not then dissemble to conceal his vices through love: that is an ill practising of this lesson:) but we must rather use good and brotherly correction, & therewithal find the means that his faults may be buried before God, & also not come in remembrance before men. Therefore it must content us to have brought our neighbours home again:
Howbeit let vs marke by the way, that wheras it is saide that loue couereth the multitude of sinnes: it is not ment that wee shoulde flatter one another, and foster our vices by lying: but that we should not blowe them abrode vpon desire to diffame the parties, who possiblie might