A17698:2410
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 the thing is too much known. Seeing then that our Lord telleth us here, that if men receive bribes, their eyes must needs be dazzled, and their hearts corrupted: let us bear well in mind, that except we will poison our selves wilfully, we must first of all keep this rule, namely that Judges must not take any thing, at leastwise of any body that hath aught to do in Law before them,§50 but utterly abstain from so doing, unless they intend to turn away from all good order, right, and equity.
for the thing is too much knowen. Seeing then that our Lord telleth vs here, that if mē receiue bribes, their eyes must needes be dazeled, and their hearts corrupted: let vs beare wel in mind, that except we will poyson our selues wilfully, we must first of all keepe this rule, namely that Iudges must not take any thing, at leastwise of any body that hath aught to doe in Lawe before thē,§50 but vtterly absteine from so dooing, vnlesse they intend to turne away from all good order, right, and equitie.
And herein we see how our Lord who knoweth our diseases, or deineth immediately meet & convenient remedies for the same. What remaineth then but that we on our side enter into examination of our selves, and every of us search himself narrowly? For the thing that maketh us so bold to tempt God, is that none of us entereth §60into himself, to look nearly to his own vices and infirmities. But if we had the discretion to bethink our selves, we would consider thus, Alas, I need not any thing to pervert me, I am as frail already as may be: though there were no occasion at all to surprise me, I would seek occasion of my self. And what will I do then when I meet with any evil occasion, or any cause of misdealing? I shall stumble and fall flat down. So then, if we advise our selves well of our vices: it is certain that we would seek all the helps that could be to preserve our selves. But seeing that God preventeth us, and on the one side showeth us how feeble and weak we be; and that on the other side, whereas we might fall into such mischief and inconvenience, he provideth for it and saith, My friends, true it is that ye be subject to evil, but the way for you to be preserved from it, is to abstain from such a thing, and to take such a remedy: seeing (I say) that God speaketh so familiarly unto us, if we refuse him, I pray you doth not our unthankfulness deserve, that we should be carried away unto all evil, and that Satan should drive us and bear us quite away, and that God should forsake us and suffer us to fall into gross offences as all the world might abhor us?