A17698:2667
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.
For although their blood cry not at all, yet doth God hear them, as he himself declareth; and there needeth neither solicitor nor attorney to require justice at his hand; he can tell well enough how to do his office, without any importunate calling upon him. The very cause why it is said that blood crieth,1 is for that God hath an eye to the evil that is committed, and it is all one with him as if the case §20were followed with never so great suite. Worldly Judges make no great force of a crime when it is committed, unless they be called upon very earnestly, and that the matter be stoutly pursued. But God declareth himself to be no such, and that his own seeing of the misdeed is enough, for nothing can scape him, and therefore it is all one with him as if the whole world took the quarrel in hand, and every man followed the suite of it with tooth §30and nail. God then tarrieth not for our speaking, but as one that knoweth his office well enough, he can skill to put to his hand when need is: and therefore let us tarry his leisure. And surely it is a doctrine of great comfort. For although we hold our peace when men misuse us; yet doeth not God fail to have his hand lifted up to succour us. Therefore let us be patient in our afflictions and wrongs, and whatsoever come of it God will not forslow: it §40is enough that he seeth men persecute us wrongfully: let us content our selves with that: the less that we speak of it, the readier will he be to relieve us: yea though we speak not one word of it: Not that it is not meet for us to call upon him, that he may vouchsafe to pity us: but that we should not be desirous of revenge, nor bear any malice to our enemies. If we hold our peace in that respect, and tarry Gods leisure for the succour which it shall please §50him to send us; let us not doubt but he will do his office, and therefore let us comfort our selves with that hope.
For although their bloud cry not at all, yet doth God heare them, as he himselfe declareth; and there needeth neither sollicitor nor attourney to require iustice at his hande; hee can tell well ynough howe to doe his office, without any importunate calling vppon him. The very cause why it is saide that bloude crieth,