A17698:2242
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.
Here Moses goeth on with the same matter that was ripped up yesterday, that is to wit, that in the seventh year debts should be respited, to the intent that the poor should not be sued nor molested. And I told you that the meaning thereof was not that they should be quite and clean §60forgiven, but that the poor should be so much eased. Now Moses addeth a larger declaration, That the same ought not to hinder men from lending liberally when any body had need. And this is added because men do always go about to defraud the Law. Although equity be showed us never so plainly, and that the Laws be set never so well together: yet are men so subtle in naughtiness, that they find always some starting hole, to bear the world in hand that they have not offended the Law, and yet the intent of the Law maker is defrauded. This is a thing too much accustomed; and would God there were not too many examples of it in experience. But what? When men think themselves to have set things in as good order as can be, a thousand means are devised to scape from them, and thereof cometh so much brabbling in Law. For the end of good Laws is to stop the way to all prattlers, that there might be no debate ⟨p. 579⟩nor quarrelling among men, but that every man might have his own right. And inasmuch as Laws do show that whosoever offendeth must be punished; is it not a mean to hold every man in awe? But as I said afore, the Law serves us but to devise wicked shifts how to do hurt and harm until our hearts be reformed. Nevertheless, our Lords meaning in this text, was to provide that the Law which he had set down should be kept, and that men should not take occasion §10thereat to withhold themselves from succouring such as are in necessity. And yet notwithstanding, that which is spoken here was not only wrested to the defrauding of the Law; but also applied much worse. For such as were too much wedded to their own profit, took occasion at Gods law to do less good and to show less mercy to their neighbours than otherwise they would have done. For why? Had it been lawful for them to have sued men at all times,§20 so as they might have required their right at all times without exception: they would have lent money in the sixth year as well as in the first, and they would have made no bones at all at it.