A17698:1374
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.
Nevertheless while I turned me too & fro, he scaped from me. And thou must answer him upon thy life, quoth Ahab. Then answered the Prophet unto Ahab: it is thy self that this toucheth. This message is sent to thee of God, to show thee that for as much as thou hast spared the king of Syria, whom God had put into thy §40hand to be revenged of him for the outrage done to his Majesty: thou must answer for him life for life, and thy people with thee. So then we see that if Gods honour be impeached, it is not for us to let things slip, but we must understand that if we make light of such a crime, God will surely make the vengeance to light upon our selves. To be short, let us mark well, that if such as have commission to punish offenders do it not: there will be no excuse for them. For that which is written §50will not be repealed for mens pleasures: that is to wit, that he which justifieth or acquitteth the guilty person,1 is as abominable before God, as he that condemneth the innocent. If a poor innocent be oppressed, men can skill to say, there is no reason in it▪ and that the matter must come to account before God. And here God addeth the second part, that is to wit, that if an offender be quit, and Justice and equity so turned upside down: it must come to account as well as the §60other. Ye see then how it is a lesson which all those ought to bear in mind, whom God hath commanded to punish mens offences: that they must be well ware to use one rule and one equal measure. For if a man punish one offender and pardon another, and think to go half quit for it before God: it is clean contrary. And for proof thereof, let us consider the example that is set down in Hoseas concerning king Jehu.2 God commanded him to destroy all Idolaters: he did it partly but not altogether: for he destroyed those whom he stood in fear of, and he did it for his own vain glory and surety. God did him the honour to make him king, & he considered it not. But when he came once to the kingdom, O he must maintain himself in it. And what did he? He executed rigour enough upon those whom he listed, and specially upon such as he wist might do him harm: but when he had so begun, he let the rest go unpunished, he cared not what came of it, so he might reign peaceably.