A17698:1280
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 yet notwithstanding ye shall have some that will complain of men as bloodsuckers, and as soon as any mention is made of the execution of Justice, it is no better [with them] but cruelty. Let such folk get them to God, and go plead against him, to see if they can get the upper hand. And it is not only the gallowesclappers that say so, I mean those whose faults and crimes are manifest: but these Tavernhaunters or Alehouse knights which counterfeit the preachers. O they have great skill to allege gentleness and mercy: and it seemeth to them that I do no more spare blood than they do the wine, which they guzzle and quaff up without measure or reason. But such blasphemies or railings do touch God, and not men. For I hear what is spoken. Let those mastiff dogs bark and gnar as much as they list: yet is this doctrine which proceeded out of Gods mouth, sufficient to make them ashamed.
And yet notwithstanding yee shall haue some that will complayne of men as bludsuckers, and as soone as any mention is made of the execution of Iustice, it is no better [with them] but crueltie. Let such folke get them to God, and goe pleade against him, to see if they can get the vpper hand. And it is not only the gallowesclappers that say so, I meane those whose faultes and crymes are manifest: but these Tauernhaunters or Alehousknightes which counterfeit the preachers. O they haue great skill to alledge gentlenesse and mercie: and it seemeth to them that I doe no more spare bloud than they do the wyne, which they gussel and quaffe vp without measure or reason. But such blasphemies or raylinges doe touche God, and not men. For I heare what is spoken. Let those mastife dogs barke and gnarre as much as they list: yet is this doctrine which proceded out of Gods mouth, sufficient to make them ashamed.
And herewithall let us mark, that the mercy which God commandeth, is to have pity of such as are going to destruction. Let that serve for one point. So as if it lay in us, we should be mindful how to draw them out of the ditch. And when we see them utterly wilful, so as there is no hope nor mean to bring them back again: we must be sorry for them, for as much as we see they be wretched damned creatures. Mark that for another point. Again, let us bear with such as fall to repentance. But when we see folks hardhearted and desperate, so as they have conspired to fight against God to the uttermost: what mercy were it to maintain that? Lo here another blasphemy, which is when men will needs be more pitiful than God. He is the wellspring of all goodness,