A17698:2296
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.
Again, the servant that is hired by the day hath more ease and privilege: insomuch that if he be ill dealt with, he may go his way. But the poor bondslave is tied, so as he must be fain to serve his master day and night, & there §50is no regard had of giving him any thing for his labour, but so he be found never so meanly it is well enough. To be short it is showed us here, that we ought always to have consideration of the profit that redoundeth to us by such as have done us service. And although there were no Law to compel us to the discharging of our duties, yet ought it to be printed in our hearts, and every man ought to have a conscience for the laws sake, which telleth §60us that we ought not to deal churlishly with our servants. For if a man flatter himself, he is never the more discharged before God, but he must be fain to come to account. And those which as now do vaunt themselves because they have gotten some superiority above others, shall in the end find that Gods will was there should have bin some equality betwixt them,1 as S. Paul speaketh thereof.2 For he useth the selfsame term when he commandeth masters to bear with their servants, & to spare them. Let there be an equality betwixt you saith he. As how? Is it meant that the servant should be checkmate with his master? No, but S. Paul would there should be an answerable uprightness, so that as the master can well skill to take the labour & travel of his servant under pretence that he may say, He is mine underling, I may command him what I list: so must he also consider the mutual bond that ought to be between one & another of us, that he on his own side do answer & acknowledge, Go to, I am his master, but not to use tyranny; I am his master, howbeit in such sort as I am also his brother; I am his master, but yet is there one common master in heaven, which hath authority both over me & over them that are under me: & in that behalf we be all but one household. And seeing that God hath called us all into his house, it behoveth both great & small to acknowledge one another for their brethren, for as much as God hath done us the honour to adopt us to be his children;
Againe, the seruaunt that is hyred by the day hath more ease and priuiledge: insomuch that if hee bee ill delt with, hee may goe his way. But the poore bondslaue is tyed, so as hee must bee faine to serue his master day and night, & there