A17698:2392
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.
18 Judges and Officers shalt thou make thee in all thy Cities which the Lord thy God giveth thee throughout all thy Tribes, to judge the people with just Judgement. 19 Thou shalt not wrest the Law, nor have regard of persons. Thou shalt not take any reward. For gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
18 Iudges and Officers shalt thou make thee in all thy Cities which the Lorde thy God giueth thee throughout all thy Tribes, to iudge the people with iust Iudgemement. 19 Thou shalt not wrest the Lawe, nor haue regarde of persons. Thou shalt not take any reward. For gifts blinde the eyes of the wise, and peruert the woordes of the righteous.
Had we continued in the same soundness of nature wherein God created us: the order of Law (as men term it) should not be so needful, because every man §30should carry the law in his heart, so as no man needed to be compelled to obedience, but every man should know his rule, & we should all with one accord follow that which is good & rightful. And therefore law is as a remedy against the corruption that is in men. As oft as there is any talk concerning earthly government, we must understand that therein we have a mirror of our frowardness, in that we are fain to be compelled to the following of uprightness & reason. For §40they that are in authority,1 have the sword in their hand: and to what end? To repress such as burst out into excess and outrage. And whereof cometh that, but that whereas men ought of themselves to seek the thing that is good and just, they turn it upside down, and go about to bring all to confusion, if they be not letted? Surely it is a great shame,2 (considering that God hath created us after his own image, & given us dominion & sovereignty over all his creatures,)§50