Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now Moses addeth, that the hand of the first witness shall be first against the party that is to be stoned; and then the hands of all the people. Wherein he meant to show, that witness must not be borne, but with fear. But nowadays, many men make no great conscience to give evidence at adventure against their neighbours, because they be not put to the executing of the sentence. Hereupon one goes and with his false tongue doeth wound some man that is but half guilty, or peradventure guiltless altogether. And he bears himself in hand, that a job with his beak is not so great a matter; by reason whereof he passeth not at all to speak against all trueth. Ye see then the very cause why there is so much liberty of forswearing nowadays; is, that such as give evidence against their neighbours, are not put to the executing of the Judges sentence. But it was Gods will that their should be another order among the people of Israel; namely that he which gave the evidence, should cast the first stone at the party, as who should say; it is thou that puttest this man to death. By means whereof folk were restrained from bearing witness against any man, unless the matter were true and certain. For he that had given the evidence, saw himself double guilty both of tongue and hand, in murdering an innocent if he had not deposed the trueth. We see then how it was not without cause, that God commanded this Ceremony; namely that the witnesses should be the first in stoning the parties that were condemned to death by the Judges. And hereby they were all done to understand, that no offender was put to death, but by the witness of such as had proved his offence by their own knowledge.

Nowe Moses addeth, that the hande of the first witnesse shalbe first against the partie that is to bee stoned; and then the hands of al the people. Wherein he ment to shewe, that witnesse must not be borne, but with feare. But nowadayes, many men make no great conscience to giue euidence at allauenture against their neighbours, because they bee not put to the executing of the sentence. Herevppon one goes and with his false tongue doeth wounde some man that is but halfe guiltie, or peraduenture guiltlesse altogether. And he bears himselfe in hand, that a iob with his beake is not so great a matter; by reason whereof he passeth not at all to speake against all trueth. Yee see then the verie cause why there is so much libertie of forswearing nowadayes; is, that such as giue euidence against their neighbours, are not put to the executing of the Iudges sentence. But it was Gods will that their shoulde bee another order among the people of Israel; namely that hee which gaue the euidence, shoulde cast the first stone at the partie, as who shoulde say; it is thou that puttest this man to death. By meanes whereof folke were restreined from bearing witnesse against any man, vnlesse the matter were true and certaine. For he that had giuen the euidence, sawe himselfe dubble guiltie both of tongue and hand, in murdering an innocent if hee had not deposed the trueth. Wee see then howe it was not without cause, that God commaunded this Ceremonie; namely that the witnesses should bee the first in stoning the parties that were condemned to death by ye Iudges. And hereby they were all done to vnderstande, that no offēder was put to death, but by the witnesse of such as had proued his offence by their owne knowledge.