A17698:2207
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.
Let us mark well then, that it is not only said that the Levites shall come and gather up their right; but also it is added that the widows, the fatherless & the strangers shall be sustained likewise. Yea verily: Albeit that the strangers were not some times of the body of the Israelites, nor of their religion: yet was it Gods will that they should be pitied. Not to nourish any filth & uncleanness thereby; (for if folk might have resorted thither from all nations, and have dwelled there, it had bin the next way to have turned the people away unto wickedness:) but it served for travellers, & for such as had intercourse of merchandise with them, whom Gods will was to have succoured when they fell into any adversity. Now seeing that the Israelites were to relieve those that were not so near neighbours unto them: what ought we to do to our brethren, and to such as are all of one selfsame faith and Religion with us? If we shake them off & suffer them to pine away for poverty, how greatly shall we be to blame, seeing that God commendeth unto us the poor strangers, yea even which have no acquaintance with us in the serving of the true God?
Let vs marke well then, that it is not onely sayd yt the Leuites shal come and gather vp their right; but also it is added yt the widowes, the fatherlesse & the strangers shalbe susteined lykewise. Yea verily: Albeit that the strangers were not some times of the body of ye Israelites, nor of their religion: yet was it Gods will yt they should be pityed. Not to nourish any silth & vncleanes thereby; (for if folke might haue resorted thither from all nations, and haue dwelled there, it had bin the next way to haue turned the people away vnto wickednesse:) but it serued for trauellers, & for such as had intercourse of marchandise with them, whome Gods will was to haue succored when they fel into any aduersitie. Now seeing that the Israelites were to relieue those that were not so neere neighbors vnto them: what ought wee to doe to our brethren, and to such as are all of one selfesame faith and Religion with vs? If we shake thē off & suffer them to pine away for pouertie, how greatly shall wee bee to blame, seeing that God cōmendeth vnto vs ye poore strangers, yea euē which haue no acquaintance wt vs in the seruing of the true God?