A17698:2187
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.
After this, he cometh to the tithes whereof he had spoken afore, & sayeth, Ye shall tithe the first of all your fruits which ye shall have gathered, as well of Corn, Wine, and Oil, as also of the first borne of all your Cattle. The repetition which our Lord useth here is not more than needeth. For (as we have seen heretofore) men are so wedded to their own profit, that their duty cannot be had at their hands, but by force, and they must be fain to §40have their ears beaten daily, or else (if it be possible) they will do what they can to exempt themselves from doing their duty, specially when it cometh to the Law of God and to the things that he requireth at our hand: for we will be ashamed if we yield not our duty unto men. When a man hath misbehaved himself towards men; ye shall see him ashamed to lift up his head. True it is that faults shall not fail to be committed, & that there will be a thousand devises to §50defraud men by theft, robbery, extortion, and other wicked practises: but yet will men always look the warelyer to themselves, because they be restrained by shame. But as for to Godward, men are quite past shame, and set all at random as though they would pull out his tongue, or forbid him to speak, when they have taken from him that which belonged unto him. And so ye see what is the cause that God hath spoken so oft of tithes which he would have offered unto him, & §60likewise of the first fruits. I have told you already that the tithes were allotted to the Levites, because God reserved them to do him service: & it behoved them to live upon the Altar, because they were dedicated thereunto. The same reason is in force at this day towards us. Not that we be bound to the same manner of tithing that the Jews were, furtherforoth than civill order requireth: but that we must always come back to this saying of Saint Paul,1 that like as the Levites •••ed upon tithes because they were dedicated to the service of GOD: so nowadays they that have the charge of teaching in the Church, ought to be maintained with living likewise, & God hath made an everlasting law thereof.
After this, he cōmeth to the tythes wherof he had spoken afore, & saieth, Yee shall tythe the first of all your fruites which ye shall haue gathered, as well of Corne, Wine, and Oyle, as also of the first borne of all your Cattell. The repetition which our Lord vseth here is not more than needeth. For (as we haue seene heretofore) men are so wedded to their owne profit, yt their duetie cannot be had at their handes, but by force, and they must bee faine to