A17698:2527
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.
Also here is mention made consequently of wives: namely, that the king must not take many wives. It is certain that this rule is common to all men. For although some of the Pat•••rkes had many wives: yet was it not therefore lawful, for we must have recourse to Gods institution. True it is that mans custom may well pervert the doctrine: but yet can it not change evil into good for all that. It is God that ordained marriage: and as he is the author thereof, so will he have men to hold them to his pure institution. Now did he create two wives for Adam? No: and yet (as sayeth the Prophet Malachi) he had abundance of spirit in him.1 It had been no harder a matter to him to have created two or three women than to have created one. Was God letted by any unabilitie? Nay, and yet he created two in one flesh. Sith the case stā death so then, it is a changing of the order of nature & a despising of God, when a man taketh two wives. O (say they) the Patriarchs did so. Yea: but thereby it appeareth that the custom of men cannot alter Gods ordinance, how great virtue or holiness so ever be in them. And it serveth also to show that such as shield themselves under the example of other men, offend double. For is it meet that Gods authority should be diminished under pretence that men have done this or that? And therefore let us understand, that it was never lawful for any man living to take two wives in marriage at once: for it is a breaking of Gods order. Why then is it forbidden here but only to kings? Because there was more liberty. And the thing that I have touched already is the better confirmed unto us in this text. ⟨p. 653⟩If a private person had taken two wives, he should have been nearly looked unto. What? Shall I go give my daughter to him that is married already? She shall be sure to have sorrow to her sops: she shall live in continual strife and unquietness. Yet were she better to be dead out of hand. But men were so desirous of honour, that if a king required a daughter of theirs to his wife, they easily condescended unto it. What? I shall have my daughter married §10to a king. And it was a blinding of a woman when she was sued unto by such a one. Now then, for as much as kings had larger scope in this case, and consequently might more offend God: