A17698:2470
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, sith we see after what fashion he will §60have us to behave our selves, & hath set the same down particularly: it is yet a greater confirmation. And as for Judges which are set in authority & preeminence: let them understand that their doings are an acceptable sacrifice to God, because he beareth record thereof in his law, and that the people also do conform themselves so much the more willingly thereunto. Wherefore we must understand, that the perverting thereof were a rebelling against God, & a despising of him. Thus we see now how needful a doctrine it is for us, & how greatly to our edifying, that our lord hath declared, that there should be one chief court of Justice for men to rest upon, that they might not be in continual doubt.
Againe, sith we see after what fashion he will §60haue vs to behaue our selues, & hath set ye same down particularly: it is yet a greater confirmation. And as for Iudges which are set in authoritie & preheminence: let them vnderstand that their doings are an acceptable sacrifice to God, because he beareth record therof in his law, and yt the people also do conform thēselues so much the more willingly thereunto. Wherefore wee must vnderstand, yt the peruerting therof were a rebelling against God, & a despising of him. Thus we see now how needful a doctrine it is for vs, & how greatly to our edifying, yt our lord hath declared, yt there should be one chiefe court of Iustice for men to rest vpon, that they might not be in continual dout.
Nevertheless we must note that our Lord would not admit appeals in all cases indifferently among his people. For he saith, If there happen any hard case, whereof the judgement is doubtful, & not easy to be determined, because the Judges (namely the inferior Judges of every city) be gravelled in it. Wherefore sets he down this? Because it had bin too great a toil for the people to have bin driven to repair to Jerusalem for every matter of sixpence, or I wot not what such like. We see (as I have said afore) how there are some unsatiable men, and such as could always be contented to singe themselves so they may scald others. Nay ye shall see some so spiteful, that though they should eat their own fingers, yet they would go forward with their suits in Law, and when they had wasted away their own substance, they would even hazard their lives also, to procure trouble to their adversaries. Seeing then that it is manifest that such folk are carried away with rage, or at leastwise with desire of revenge: it is good to bridle them. And that is the cause why God would not have all cases to come to Jerusalem. For he had set a good order, namely that there should be justice in every City, yea and men of understanding, to give judgement of such matters as were to come to trial before them. Provided always that the cause were not hard and doubtful.