A17698:2251
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.
Now he addeth further, Thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thy hand. He might well have begun at this point, Thy hand shall not be shut, for that is the matter which he tendeth to in effect. But it is not for nought that he saith, Thou shalt not shut up thy heart. For why, his intent is to prevent the thing that hindereth our welldoing & our succouring of our §10neighbours that are in distress: namely, the hardness of our hearts. For where pity is, that is to say if we be pitiful, we will endeavour to utter it if we have wherewith. In deed a man shall see a number that can well skill to weep; but all that they can find in their hearts to do, is but to shed a few tears: they cast forth such sighs that a man would think their hearts should burst; but to spare one penny out of their purse, that is no part of their thought. Many §20such hypocrites are to be seen. But let us have the true kindheartedness in us, and let us not be hardhearted, but let our hand ever follow our heart. And that is the cause why our Lord began at this point▪ That men should not harden their hearts. As if he should say, will ye be good Almsmen? Will ye be well disposed to succour such as have need of your help? Then let your hearts be softened, and not locked up to hold fast to your §30selves, but to think rather with your selves thus: Behold God offereth me here a man, he is my neighbour, and although he be neither •ith nor kin to me, yet is he a creature shaped after the image of God, and therefore must I open my heart towards him, and have some pity upon him. As oft then as we be cold and negligent in succouring our neighbours, let us learn to enter into this consideration that is set down here, and to say to our selves: How §40now? Wretched man, if thou wart as he is, wouldest thou not be glad that others should succour thee? Yes: and if they should let thee alone, thou couldest skill well enough to say for thy self, Alas, men make no more account of a creature fashioned after the image of God, than of a dog. Thou couldest well skill to say so; and yet for all that wilt thou thy self harden thy heart after the same fashion? Thus ye see what we have in the first place to mark upon §50