A17698:2091
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.
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.
As for the Heathen, when they made lawes for the obseruing of the manner of religion that was stablished among them; they had a good grounde and foundation for the thing they did. For it is not ynough for Magistrates to make lawes to represse robberies, murther, and violence; but they knewe also howe it was meete that God should haue the forehande. Nowe if nature taught them so much; what excuse will §60there bee for vs that professe Christianitie, if we say it is ynough for men to represse robberies, aduowtries, murthers, and other such violent and outragious dooings that tende to the hurt of priuate persons: and in the meane while make none account of God? What a dealing were that? The Heathen then had a good grounde in that they knewe that in a well ordered Common weale, religion ought to bee obserued, and that if any man attempted ought to the contrarie, he was to be punished: in so much that it was a matter of life and death among them, and it was obserued throughout all the worlde in all ages.
The Jews did not amiss in being zealous in punishing false prophets after that God had given them this law. Likewise in these days, whereas the Papists say that Heretics are to be punished; that is true, we confess that they be worthy of it. But therewithal they ought to come to the point that is set down here, namely, that it behooveth us to know which is the GOD whom we serve, and that we be sure that our religion is not a thing set forth at all adventure, but that we hold the infallible trueth of Gods own sending, and that it is preached unto us in his name & by his authority: so as it is he on whom our faith is grounded. It would become us (say I) to come to that point. But the Papists play the beasts in that behalf, bearing themselves in hand that so they shut their eyes, they may execute their rage and fury upon innocents.