A17698:309
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.
Another point is, That God gave mount Seir in possession to Esau: it was his lot. When he had excluded him out of the land of Canaan, he gave him the other country for himself and his successors. Forasmuch then as it was assigned him of God: it was not for men to attempt to deprive or bereave him thereof. Now as touching this brotherhood, God will have it to move us, and to be as a certain bond to knit us together, so as nature may persuade us to be §30kindhearted one to another, and restrain us from doing wrong or harm to any man. True it is that there is not fleshly kindred between all men, to make them so near of blood as they might call one another cousins, and name themselves be any linage whereof either other were descended: but yet is there a certain common kindred in general, which is, that all men ought to think how they be fashioned after Gods image, and that there is one nature common among §40them all. Even the heathen men knew that very well. So then whereas we have some discretion to maintain peace and concord, and to yield every man his right without taking away of any mans goods, & without committing of any extortion or outrage: and we pervert the order of nature, and are worse than the wild beasts which make countenance one to another when they be all of one kind. For the wolves are not at §50such variance among themselves as men are. And therefore let us learn, that although there be not any near kindred among us, yet notwithstanding inasmuch as we be men, there ought to be some common bond between us, and a certain brotherly love. But there is yet another consideration among Christians: for God hath adopted them to be of his household: and that ought to avail more than all the kindred on the earth. For seeing that God hath told us that he intendeth to take us to himself, because that §60being of his Church we be as it were his own children, and call upon him as with one mouth, saying our father: if we nevertheless agree as cats and dogs among our selves: may it in any wise be borne withal, specially considering that we cannot claim him for our father, unless we be governed by his holy spirit: [No surely:] For either his spirit must cry in our hearts: or else we shall have our mouths shut.1 Again on the other side, by what title can we claim so great a benefit and honour as to be the children of God: