A17698:2279
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.
For §20even the heathen themselves at the same time in which I told you,1 that that bondage was most rife, could skill to say that they were not to be used as bondservants but as hirelings, that is to say, after the manner of our servants that take wages by the year at this day. Is it not a great shame that the heathen both Greeks and Latins could speak after this fashion, we have bondslaves, we may use them as Oxen & Asses: but that is villainous, it is out of all order: & therefore albeit that it be lawful for us §30by the civill Laws; yet is it against all humanity, & we ought to have another regard. As how? Surely we must use them as though they were freemen whom we hired for wages. If ye blind wretches spake so; & perceived that this kind of upright dealing was requisite: what shall become of us? Verily God hath punished such as have dealt roughly with them. For it was lawful for a Master in old time to kill his bondservant, & he needed not to ask leave of the Magistrate to §40put his servant to torture, but he might tear him in pieces one member from another, yea even at home in his own private house: & when his Master had so murdered him, no man sought Justice or reformation of it. True it is that in the end men were forbidden to kill them without examination of their case: but yet had the Masters always that authority still. And because they abused it, God payed them home with the like again, so as they had a common proverb among them, That look §50how many bondservants a man had at home, so many enemies had he. Also they could well skill to condemn themselves, saying: they be not enemies borne, but we make them our enemies by our cruelty. Seeing then that the heathen knew thus much; it was requisite that there should be some greater mildness & humanity among gods people that were chosen of a singular privilege. That is the cause why God said expressly that they should be helped at their departing from their houses in the §60seventh year. For if a poor man be sent away stark naked, now & then he had lever to continue a slave still, than to go seek what shall betide him he wot not where. A poor man that hath not much to take to, can find in his hart to take pains; & so he may have meat & drink, he is at a point. Thereupon he taketh pains in his Masters house: Now if his Master drive him out of his doors & say get thee hence: