A17698:2090
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 he sayeth expressly, the gods which neither thou nor thy fathers have known. By this saying §40he doeth us to understand that it behooveth us to be well assured of our religion. For to put a man to death without having known which is the true God, were but a frantic zeal, as we see the Papists do at this day, and the Heathen have been wont to do at all times, yea, and even the Jews also, who have put this law in execution (howbeit a miss) against the prophets. And under the same pretence were our Lord Jesus and his Apostles driven to suffer §50persecution.
And hee sayeth expressely, the gods which neither thou nor thy fathers haue knowen. By this saying §40hee doeth vs to vnderstande that it behooueth vs to bee well assured of our religion. For to put a man to death without hauing knowen which is the true God, were but a frantike zeale, as wee see the Papistes doe at this day, and the Heathen haue beene wont to doe at all times, yea, and euen the Iewes also, who haue put this lawe in execution (howbeit a misse) against the prophets. And vnder the same pretence were our Lorde Iesus and his Apostles driuen to suffer §50persecution.
As for the Heathen, when they made laws for the observing of the manner of religion that was stablished among them; they had a good ground and foundation for the thing they did. For it is not enough for Magistrates to make laws to repress robberies, murder, and violence; but they knew also how it was meet that God should have the forehand. Now if nature taught them so much; what excuse will §60there be for us that profess Christianity, if we say it is enough for men to repress robberies, adulteries, murders, and other such violent and outrageous doings that tend to the hurt of private persons: and in the mean while make none account of God? What a dealing were that? The Heathen then had a good ground in that they knew that in a well ordered Common weal, religion ought to be observed, and that if any man attempted ought to the contrary, he was to be punished: in so much that it was a matter of life and death among them, and it was observed throughout all the world in all ages.