A17698:125
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.
And forasmuch as men do always put us in fear, so as there spring from thence the sorest and worst temptations that can be to hinder the performance of our duty: Moses warneth Judges expressly, not to be afraid of men. Why? For the judgement is Gods, sayeth he. Lo here a §20text well worthy to be marked. I have told you already, that which experience showeth too much: that is to wit, that they which otherwise are of good nature, do nevertheless overshoot themselves through fearfulness. Ye shall see a man in the place of Justice, who being not evil of himself, would that all should go well, it grieveth him when he seeth any fault, and he could find in his heart that every man should bridle himself, or else that there §30should be some good correction when any men have done amiss: but in the mean while, forasmuch as he seeth that there will be some grudging and misliking of the matter, [he thinketh thus with himself:] What? Shall I provoke every man to anger against me? That man hath kinsfolk and friends, and such a one is able to be even with me if I trouble him. Again forasmuch as naughtiness reigneth everywhere, and wicked folk have their full scope, and are most §40in number: I shall bring all the world in my top, & if I mind to discharge my duty, I must not set my self against two or three only, but I see that all are corrupt, and there is no man but he resisteth welldoing. They therefore which otherwise fear God and would minister right and justice when they sit in judgement, are letted through fearfulness. If they stand in awe of men, they shall surely be shaken down. And why? Because they be not grounded upon the §50foundation that Moses layeth here, namely that the judgement is Gods. They know not (say I) that they offer great dishonour and reproach unto God, when they prefer men before him. For he that swerveth from his duty for fear, esteemeth men more than God. Why so? A Judge ought to consider, that God hath set him in the place where he is, with another manner of countenance than other simple creatures. For he that sitteth in the seat of Justice, sitteth in the room §60of God, and is as his Lieutenant. A Judge therefore ought to consider that: and if he do not, he forgetteth God, whom he was bound to serve.