A17698:2223
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, Other Nations possess their lands in fee simple: but I hold you as my farmers.1 I will not have you to be as owners, so as ye might say this is mine: neither shall ye be as purchasers of the Land at my hand; ye shall have as it were but a sojourning place in it for a time, and ye shall be but as a Farmer under a master. Lo here the §10cause why our Lords will was that the possessions should return to the fi•st owners again. But as for that which is spoken here, concerneth but the seventh year, at which time every man ought to be released, and no man ought to sew his debtors, yet every man ought to retain his own right nevertheless still. For Gods meaning was not that he which had lent money should lose it, so as he should have no means to recover his debt §20again: (for so should one man have robbed another of his substance; and the untrusty merchant that had wasted his goods in riot and excess at his ease without care, should have laughed his creditor to scorn as soon as the seventh year were come, which had been a great disorder, and would have caused unthrifts to have become the worse): but Gods intent was only that there should a kind of respite be given, that the poorer sort might not be §30pinched out of measure.
And hee saieth expresly, Other Nations possesse their landes in feesimple: but I holde you as my farmours.1 I will not haue you to be as owners, so as yee might say this is mine: neither shall yee bee as purchasers of the Lande at my hande; yee shal haue as it were but a soiourning place in it for a time, and yee shall bee but as a Farmer vnder a master. Loe heere the §10cause why our Lordes will was that the possessions shoulde returne to the fi•st owners againe. But as for that which is spoken heere, concerneth but the seuenth yeare, at which time euerie man ought to bee released, and no man ought to sew his detters, yet euerie man ought to reteyne his owne right neuerthelesse still. For Gods meaning was not that hee which had lent money should lose it, so as hee shoulde haue no meanes to recouer his dette