A17698:2247
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 now let us come to that which is set down here. If any of thy brethren (sayeth he) be §10fallen behind hand, as leastwise of such as dwell within thy gates: look that thou harden not thy heart, n• shut thy hand against him. His speaking peculiarly of the Israelites themselves, was not to give the Jews leave to devour the goods of the heathen, nor to deal cruelly with them: but his meaning was that there should be the more friendliness used among themselves, because that besides the kindred that was among them, there was also an union of faith. For GOD §20had schooled out the linage of Abraham from the rest of the world, and had knit them together into one body, whereof he himself vouchsafed to be the head: and therefore it was good reason that they should maintain one another, and be the more inclined one to succour another. But hereof the Jews took occasion, to hold fast all that ever they could catch; for they construed all the promises of the holy scripture to their own advantage, as though §30God had laid the bridle on their necks, and had no more care of the Gentiles than of brute beasts. As for example; whereas it is said, Ye shall reign over many Nations; thereupon they concluded, Then is it lawful for us to execute all manner of Tyranny upon the Gentiles, and to eat them up▪ for they be uncircumcised and unclean, and belong not unto God at all: & therefore let us suck what we can possibly out of them, and not spare them. Yea and they §40stretched the word Lenide very far: for they sticked not a whit to overload the strangers with usury to the uttermost that they could bear, without any regard of uprightness. Thus ye see how the Jews did always restrain the right of Gods promises, bearing themselves in hand that it behoved them to be a little friendlier to their neighbours, that is to say to those that were of their own kindred: And yet even in that behalf also they were counted §50as ravening Wolves, as the Prophet Jeremiah upbraideth them,1 and as shall be declared in due place.