Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now let us note, that when God giveth forth special laws, he gainsayeth not him self: but we must always refer them unto the general doctrine. As how? If a servant should run away upon deceit, or upon malice, or upon any other such cause, it were a sin in him; and that thievery were not good nor allowed of GOD. Therefore when this special law and privilege was given forth, that a servant should be suffered in the Land of Judah, it repealeth not that which our Lord had delivered concerning servants afore. And again whereas he saith: Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours servant, nor his maid; that commandment standeth still in full force; so that it was not lawful for the Jews to hold back an other mans servant, for their own profits sake; neither was it lawful for servants to deceive their masters. But when a servant escaped unto them, & desired to dwell among the people of God; this leave was granted unto him: howbeit upon this condition, that he was oppressed, and that he had just & reasonable cause: of running from his master, for being too lewdly & cruelly handled. That was to be presupposed afore. For (as I have told you) the law which is contained in the ten commandments is an infallible rule▪ When we have that abridgement, we have therein the will of God fully warranted unto us. And we ought to measure every particular law by those ten commandments, That is the true touchstone whereby we must examine how every special law is to be taken and expounded. For we shall never understand things to any purpose, except we refer them all hither. And why? for perfect righteousness is contained in those ten commandments which God hath delivered in the two tables. Seeing it is so, we can never be deceived if we examine things after this manner. Go to: here is the law. Pertaineth the thing unto the service of God, or to the second table; that is to that table wherein God hath prescribed how ⟨p. 817⟩we ought to live with men? It is of the second table. Well then, let us see now whether it pertain unto the first commandment of honouring father and mother: or to the second, Thou shalt do no murder: or to the third, Thou shalt not commit adultery: or to the fourth, Thou shalt not steal: or to the fifth, Thou shalt not bear false witness: or lastly to the sixth, Thou shalt not covet.

Now let vs note, that when God giueth forth speciall lawes, he gainesayeth not him selfe: but we must alwayes referre them vnto the generall doctrine. As howe? If a seruant should runne away vpon deceite, or vpon malice, or vppon any other such cause, it were a sinne in him; and that theeuerie were not good nor allowed of GOD. Therefore when this speciall law and priuiledge was giuen foorth, that a seruant should be suffered in the Lande of Iuda, it repealeth not that which our Lorde had deliuered concerning seruants afore. And againe whereas he sayth: Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours seruaunt, nor his maide; yt commaundement standeth still in full force; so that it was not lawefull for the Iewes to holde backe an other mans seruāt, for their own profits sake; neither was it lawfull for seruants to deceiue their maisters. But when a seruant escaped vnto them, & desired to dwell among ye people of God; this leaue was graunted vnto him: howbeit vpon this condition, yt he was oppressed, and yt he had iust & reasonable cause: of running from his maister, for being too leaully & cruelly handled. That was to be presupposed afore. For (as I haue tolde you) the law which is conteined in the tenne cōmandements is an infallible rule When we haue that abridgement, we haue therin the will of God fully warranted vnto vs. And we ought to measure euery particular lawe by those ten cōmandements, That is ye true touchstone whereby we must examine how euery speciall lawe is to be taken and expounded. For we shall neuer vnderstande thinges to any purpose, except we referre them all hither. And why? for perfect righteousnesse is contained in those ten commandements which God hath deliuered in the two tables. Seeing it is so, we can neuer be deceiued if we examin things after this manner. Go to: here is the law. Pertaineth the thing vnto the seruice of God, or to the second table; that is to that table wherin God hath prescribed how