A17698:2071
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 besides this, such as have the sword §50in their hand, must provide for it also, and every man to his power must strain himself to keep Gods Church from infecting with such poison, that the devil may not have his full scope to falsify the pure trueth, to advance himself against GOD, to overthrow the right religion, and (at a word) to turn all things upside down: but we must let these things as much as we can. Wherefore let us mark, that it was Gods will that false prophets should be §60rooted out from among his people. Now at the first sight this Law seemeth to be overstreite: for is it meet that a man should be punished so sore for speaking his mind? Verily it is a wonder that we can abide that one should be punished for speaking against a mortal man, and that when a man shall have blasphemed the living GOD, we could find in our hearts that he should scape unpunished. It appeareth what zeal is in them, which would have such rigour abolished. If a Prince be misused, men will think that death is too small a thing for the offender, and that the fact can not be sufficiently revenged, insomuch that whosoever speaketh against the princes authority shall be punished, and no man will speak against it. If a man be found so wicked as to procure a rebellion, or to raise an insurrection among the people, very well, he must loose his head for it, and no man will say that such a Law is unjust or wicked. And why? Because it serves for the maintenance of the state and common weal of the Country. And yet for all this, whereas GOD hath the sovereign dominion of all, a worm of the earth shall set himself against him, and go about to rob him of his honour, and to deface his majesty and authority; and yet all this shall be as nothing, it shall be let slip, and because it is but words, there is no reason why such punishment should ensue of it. But they that say so, do well show that they have no love at all towards GOD, but (which worse is) that they could find in their hearts that all things were confounded together in a hotchpotche, so as men might scoff at GOD and at his majesty, and turn all religion into a mockery and scorn. To be short, whosoever he is that speaketh so: he is not to be taken for an ignorant person, seeing he would that false doctrines should be unpunished:
And yet besides this, such as haue the sworde §50in their hande, must prouide for it also, and euerie man to his power must streine himselfe to keepe Gods Church from infecting with suche poyson, that the deuill may not haue his full scope to falsifie the pure trueth, to aduaunce himselfe against GOD, to ouerthrowe the right religion, and (at a worde) to turne all thinges vpside downe: but we must let these thinges as much as we can. Wherefore let vs marke, that it was Gods will that falseprophetes shoulde be