A17698:1372
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 therefore in matters of Justice, men must forbear their own opinions & wills, & not be so overweening, as to take leave to do what they think good, or to turn aside one way or other: but have a regard to follow the rule that our Lord giveth them, assuring themselves that the authority of Justice is tied to the thing which he showeth, and that his putting of them in that commission, is to the intent they should repress & punish evil doers, and maintain & defend good folk. Seeing it is so: it is meet that the use thereof should be thereafter.
And therefore in matters of Iustice, men must forbeare their own opinions & wils, & not be so ouerweening, as to take leaue to do what they think good, or to turn aside one way or other: but haue a regard to followe the rule that our Lord giueth them, assuring themselues that the authoritie of Iustice is tyed to the thing which he sheweth, and that his putting of them in that commission, is to the intent they should represse & punish euil doers, and maintaine & defend good folke. Seeing it is so: it is meete yt ye vse therof should be thereafter.
Moreover, as concerning these nations whom Moses speaketh of: Let us mark that besides the other crimes & enormities which they had committed: there was also a contempt of God, which was utterly intolerable. In deed, we will make no great reckoning of that: but yet doth GOD make reckoning of it, and he passeth not what we have imagined: for all our imaginations are corrupted. When God doth once set up his judgment seat: we may well put forth our opinion, but the thing which God hath ordained must stand, & not be repealed. Now then let us note, that whensoever Gods honour is lightly esteemed, then must rigour be used rather than mercy in that behalf. And we must call to mind the example that is rehearsed in the first book of kings:1 namely of Ahab who would needs show mercy to Benhadad king of ⟨p. 329⟩