A17698:2666
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.
WE saw yesterday how it was Gods will to have the inconveniences prevented, which are wont to be seen when men suffer §50occasions of evil uncut off. And that is somewhat better expressed in this saying which Moses addeth: Beware (saith he) that guiltless blood be not shed in thy land. Then it is not enough to punish murders after they be committed, but we must also have the wisdom to prevent them aforehand and to take such order as they may not be committed. And forasmuch as Satan needs but a small gap to thrust us out at, let us be watchful in this §60case of preventing occasions of evil as hath bin said afore. Moreover let us also mark this saying, that the blood shall be upon those that suffer things to slip so. For though a man can protest that he consented not to the doing of an evil deed, yet notwithstanding if he suffered it so as it came to pass through his negligence: he shall be taken as accessary. The old proverb is true, that he which suffereth a thing to be done and may let it, is the doer of it. And therefore if a Judge that hath the sword in his hand do suffer evil deeds to be done and punish them not: it is all one as if he committed them himself. It is not enough for him to say I would it were otherwise: but he must show it by his doings. To be short, when men bear with such as trouble the order of the common weal; it is all one as if they bolstered them in it. Again, by such examples things are set at a general liberty, so as custom is taken for law. And therefore look what mischief or inconvenience ensueth afterward, the blame of it is to be imputed to those that remedied it not when time was. That is the cause why it is said that the blood shall be upon a whole Nation, when men have not been held short that they might not commit murders. ⟨p. 692⟩For that manner of speech is very rife in the Hebrew tongue. And in the same respect also did the Jews say,1 his blood be upon us and upon our children that is to say, let the blame light upon us. We must not bring here fantastical imaginations as the Rabbins (that is to say the Jewish doctors) do, who alleging always their own dreams, do say that the souls of the murdered do ask vengeance continually at Gods hand, until they have had Justice done unto §10