A17698:1023
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 there is yet another foul extremity, worthy of blame: which is that we be too hasty in blazing abroad the misdeeds which ought to be reformed quietly, and without making too great brute of them. And this groweth sometimes of enmity, sometimes of ambition or vainglory, and sometimes of a fond desire to vaunt our selves. Sometimes it is of enmity. For under colour that we be desirous to chastise vice, and that we be loth to have God offended:§30 we fall to lying in wait for those whom we hate, and to whom we bear any privy grudge: and if we find any thing to be blamed or caught hold of against them: by and by their tale shall be told, and we abuse Gods name falsely in playing the zealous persons after that fashion, when we seek nothing else but to undermine our enemies. And our malice appeareth the better in this, that having rebuked a vice in one whom we hate, we bear with it and cloak §40it as much as we can in our friends, and keep not an indifferent hand. And doeth not that bewray that we do it not of any good will, and that we make not war against the sins and vices, but against the persons rather? It may be discerned too easily. And therefore whensoever we go about to bewray mens vices and sins, let us understand that our hearts must be clear and free from all ill will, so as we may protest before GOD that we be desirous both of §50the welfare and of the profit of him whom we find fault with. Let that serve for one point.
But there is yet another foule extremitie, worthie of blame: which is that wee be too hastie in blasing abroade the misdeedes which ought to bee reformed quietly, and without making too great brute of them. And this groweth somtimes of enmitie, sometimes of ambition or vaineglorie, and sometimes of a fonde desire to vaunt our selues. Sometimes it is of enmitie. For vnder colour that wee bee desirous to chastise vice, and that we be loth to haue God offended:§30 wee fall to lying in waite for those whome wee hate, and to whom we beare any priuie grudge: and if we find any thing to be blamed or caught holde of against them: by and by their tale shalbee tolde, and wee abuse Gods name falsely in playing the zealous persons after that fashion, when wee seeke nothing else but to vndermine our enemies. And our malice appeareth the better in this, that hauing rebuked a vyce in one whom wee hate, we beare with it and cloke