A17698:2471
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.
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.
Neuerthelesse we must note yt our Lord would not admit appeales in all cases indifferently among his people. For he saith, If there happen any hard case, wherof the iudgement is doutfull, & not easie to be determined, because the Iudges (namely ye inferior Iudges of euery citie) be graueled in it. Wherfore sets he down this? Because it had bin too great a toyle for the people to haue bin driuen to repayre to Ierusalem for euery matter of sixpence, or I wote not what such like. Wee see (as I haue sayde afore) howe there are some vnsatiable men, and such as could alwayes be contented to sindge themselues so they may scald others. Nay ye shal see some so spitefull, yt though they should eate their owne fingers, yet they would go forewarde with their sutes in Law, and whē they had wasted away their own substance, they would euen hazard their liues also, to procure trouble to their aduersaries. Seeing then that it is manifest that such folk are caried away with rage, or at leastwise with desire of reuenge: it is good to bridle them. And that is the cause why God woulde not haue all cases to come to Ierusalem. For he had set a good order, namely that there shoulde be iustice in euerie Citie, yea and men of vnderstanding, to giue iudgement of such matters as were to come to triall before them. Prouided alwayes that the cause were not harde and doutfull.