A17698:2406
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.
Were this rule well held, we should not hear so many complaints, neither should things be so far out of order. But what? ye shall see a good judgement given, and a fault or offence punished as it ought to be: and by and by in the turning of an hand, ye shall see the like case go unpunished. And why is that? Because the persons of men do bear all the sway. There is a case wherein a man is convicted by the things which §30he himself was to speak: it falleth out apparent, and thereupon he is to have some punishment, and he hath it in deed. And why then is not the like done in all other like cases? O because the party is favoured. In deed men seek many colours and disguisings: & it is so much the worse: but yet cannot God be deceived, whatsoever shifts be made to shroud our matters with all. Nevertheless the world sees how this respecting of persons perverteth all right, and that it is almost §40an ordinary thing. Insomuch that for some one nice point, a man is oftentimes gravelled in a case, which of it self were plain & manifest enough, if the parties themselves came not into the play, that the Judge might give sentence uprightly, without respecting the outward shows which I spake of afore. But the Judges being prevented with the regard of the persons, do cast great doubts where none at all is, to say this & that. And what is the cause thereof? Always the respecting §50of persons. And in deed, in some cases a Judge will go through with them, and dispatch them quickly: and in some other in all points like, he will have so many devises, that he can never determine it. We see then how great the lewdness of men is in this behalf. Yet for all that, our Lord will not have the instruction which he delivereth here to his people, to be lost or unprofitable. Therefore let us look that we make our profit of it.
Were this rule well held, we should not heare so many complaintes, neither should thinges be so farre out of order. But what? yee shall see a good iudgement giuen, and a fault or offence punished as it ought to be: and by and by in ye turning of an hand, ye shall see the like case goe vnpunished. And why is that? Because the persons of men doe beare al the sway. There is a case wherin a man is conuicted by the thinges which §30he himself was to speake: it falleth out apparant, and thereupon he is to haue some punishment, and he hath it in deede. And why then is not the like done in al other like cases? O because the partie is fauored. In deede men seeke many colours and disguisings: & it is so much the woorse: but yet cānot God be deceiued, whatsoeuer shifts be made to shroude our matters with all. Neuerthelesse the worlde sees howe this respecting of persons peruerteth all right, and that it is almost