A17698:2266
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.
IT is said in the common proverb, that Laws are not made for things that are not wont to come to pass, but for things that are in ure, and which it behoveth §50us to practise daily. And that is the cause why our Lord in this text saith, that his speaking of the succouring of the poor is not without cause, for that as long as this mortal life endureth, we shall ever find whereon to execute our duty, by relieving the necessities of our neighbours, because there shall always be poor folk among us in the world. Thus we see in effect, that Gods intent was to make the Jews to take the better heed to his Law, forasmuch as it was a §60very requisite yea and necessary thing, that they should be put in mind of their duty in the behalf. And thereupon we have to gather, that the more available a doctrine is to the well ordering of our life, the better ought we to set our minds upon it. We see a number of folk which are fond and curious in forecasting for things that happen not once in a hundred years: they imagine things that are utterly unpossible: & if this should come to pass (say they) what should we do then? They beat their brains about things that have no profit in them, and in the mean while they see not the things that are before their feet. And for proof hereof, how many are to be seen nowadays, which grossly overshoot themselves in things that ought to be throughly known, shutting their eyes at them so as they see not one whit? And yet for all that, they toil themselves exceedingly in searching out I wot not what: and if a man ask them why they do so, they cannot tell, but that they be driven thereto by a foolish curiosity. Therefore let us bear in mind that our Lords intent is to keep us occupied so far forth as is for our behoof. And that is the cause why that in the holy scripture, we see that God hath not vouchsafed to feed our humours with things which he knoweth to ⟨p. 585⟩be of no edification, but restraineth us to the things which are for our behoof to put in ure. Let us consider then that every of us ought to look diligently to his own duty: and that is the warning that is given us in this text, where God telleth us that he maketh not Laws of things that concern us not, but that he hath an eye to the things which we ought to put in practise daily.
IT is sayd in the common prouerb, that Lawes are not made for thinges that are not woont to come to passe, but for thinges that are in vre, and which it behoueth