A17698:2224
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.
But now let us return to that which is set down in the text. In the seventh year there shall be a Forgiving, that is to say, a forbearing or a giving of further respite. He meaneth not that there should be a clear acquittal or releasing for ever: but only that he which had lent money, should not challenge his debt out of hand, nor be so greedy and hasty as to seek it by suit of Law §40that year. And he speaketh expressly of the end of the year, to show that this forbearing or respiting should not only be at the beginning of the year, but even throughout to the seventh years end. And here God meant to bound his Law according to the circumstance: that is to say, because the seventh year was a kind of resting time as well as the seventh day was; therefore our Lords will was that the same should be observed.§50 Therefore sayeth he, at the term: howbeit not to signify the end of the year, but to betoken the continuance of the time appointed by the Law. You shall give a respite sayeth he, and the manner thereof shall be thus: If any man owe thee aught, thou shalt not constrain him, at leastwise for the debt of thy hand. As if he had said, thou shalt not take the thing by force, but shalt rather forbear the debt. And why so? For this forbearing cometh specially §60of God: that is to say, God reserveth that year specially to himself, and he will have it openly proclaimed as it was indeed, and he will have the order thereof to be kept.
But nowe let vs returne to that which is set downe in the texte. In the seuenth yeare there shall bee a Forgiuing, that is to say, a forbearing or a giuing of further respite. Hee meaneth not that there shoulde bee a cleare acquitall or releasing for euer: but onely that hee which had lent money, shoulde not chalendge his dette out of hande, nor bee so greedie and hastie as to seeke it by sute of Lawe §40that yeare. And hee speaketh expresly of the ende of the yeare, to shewe that this forbearing or respitting shoulde not onely bee at the beginning of the yeare, but euen throughout to the seuenth yeares ende. And here God meant to bounde his Lawe according to the circumstance: that is to saye, because the seuenth yeare was a kinde of resting time as well as the seuenth day was; therefore our Lordes will was that the same shoulde bee obserued.§50