A17698:107
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.
So then, let us weigh well this saying where Moses exhorteth the people to choose men of understanding and wisdom, and tried men. For if a man be put in office but upon hope, without good knowledge and experience had of him: is it not §30a defiling of the seat of God and of Justice? In deed God reserveth to himself the sovereignty over all men, as he is also worth to have: and yet notwithstanding he will be served by mortal men as by his ministers & officers: and therefore the seat of Justice is (as ye would say) consecrated or hallowed unto him, as shall be showed in the next lesson. Now, there is taking of men at aladuenture, and they know not what they ought to do, nor how to behave themselves. Well,§40 such a one must needs make a trial what he can do, & when he is once set in his seat, he will have an eye to himself. yea? Shall he that would not take a Cowherd or a Shepherd into his house upon bare hope, without knowledge or understanding of him what he is: shall he (I say) go set a man in Gods seat, of whom he hath no knowledge, and of whom he hath no experience to judge what he is? Now then, let us be well advised, & forasmuch as God granteth us the grace or rather §50privilege of choosing officers to govern us, which is not common to all people: in any wise let us not abuse that gift of God, or else we shall be amazed to see our selves bereft thereof. And soothly the very cause why so many tyrannies are crept into the world, is that all nations have forgone their freedom, so as there is no more election by reason whereof Princes do sell the offices of Justice, & things are so out of order as is horrible to see. And whereof cometh that, but §60that when the people had the election in their hands, they abused it, & so were worthy that God should bereave them of the honour that he had done them? For is it not as good as a wilful provoking of Gods wrath, and spiting of him, when folk having free election, whereas they should choose men to serve God and to be as his officers, do in stead thereof keep routings in Taverns or Alehouses, and even as it were in scorn & mockery of God, choose such as are most unthrifts & furthest out of order? See ye not how it is a perverting of all order?
So then, let vs wey wel this saying where Moses exhorteth the people to choose men of vnderstanding and wisedome, and tryed men. For if a man be put in office but vpon hope, without good knowledge and experience had of him: is it not