A17698:2243
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 that a Law was set forth, that there should be a forbearing of it in the seventh year, if a poor man required succour, every man thought thus with himself: if I lend him money now, it is laid a water, I loose a whole years occupying of it, and §30what a thing is that? It were better that this good fellow should go provide himself where he can: for I intend not to hazard myself in this wise: for what can I tell what will befall within a year and a half? There needeth but a little hinderance, and beside, he may fall into further poverty, and then am I cut short of my money. Thus ye see how every man would shrink away, and under colour that God had commanded men to use gentleness §40towards their neighbours in the seventh year; the poor were disappointed of help and relief, and their throats were cut, so as there was no way for them to ease themselves of their want.
But nowe that a Lawe was set foorth, that there shoulde bee a forbearing of it in the seuenth yeare, if a poore man required succour, euerie man thought thus with himselfe: if I lende him money nowe, it is layde a water, I loose a whole yeares occupying of it, and §30what a thing is that? It were better that this good fellowe shoulde goe prouide himselfe where hee can: for I intende not to hazarde myselfe in this wise: for what can I tell what will befall within a yeare and a halfe? There needeth but a little hinderance, and beside, hee may fall into further pouertie, and then am I cut short of my money. Thus ye see how euery man woulde shrinke away, and vnder colour that God had commaunded men to vse gentlenesse §40towardes their neighbours in the seuenth yeare; the poore were disappointed of help and reliefe, and their throates were cut, so as there was no way for them to ease themselues of their want.
And hereby we see yet better, that men not only be subtle in devising new shifts from time to time, to cover their misdoings: but also that when they have never so good and just Laws, they turn them to the clean contrary. And this