A17698:1291
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.
For they bear men in hand that they may haunt the company of wicked men, & yet keep themselves sound from all corruption. Yea, but it is a token that they do ill know themselves, when they bear themselves in hand that they be far other than God hath reported them to be. Behold, God warneth us of our frailty, and telleth us that if we keep company with the wicked, they shall rather draw to evil, than we shall bring them back to good: and therefore it behoveth §10us to keep us out of their company. And if we think the contrary: what will come of it? In the end we shall find that all our weening was but fondness and folly: and therefore let us rather learn to obey God.
For they beare mē in hand that they may haunt the company of wicked men, & yet keepe themselues sound from all corruption. Yea, but it is a token that they doe ill knowe themselues, when they beare themselues in hand that they be far other than God hath reported them to bee. Behold, God warneth vs of our frailtie, and telleth vs that if wee keepe companie with the wicked, they shall rather drawe to euill, than we shall bring them backe to good: and therefore it behoueth §10vs to keepe vs out of their companie. And if we thinke the contrarie: what wil come of it? In the ende wee shall finde that all our weening was but fondnesse and follie: and therefore let vs rather learne to obey God.
But here it might be demanded whether it be not lawful for the faithful to have any company with the wicked. I told ye already that we must not go beyond the bonds that God hath set. God giveth us leave to endeavour as much §20as is possible for us, to bring them back again which are out of the way of salvation. For as for the things that were spoken concerning the Amorites and the people that were their neighbours: they take not place so rigorously nowadays, as though God gave us the sword in our hand, to slay all that were against us: but every of us must have an eye to his own state, and to the charge which God hath committed unto him.