A17698:313
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.
Here we have a good lesson to gather, which belongeth to us all. Although mention be made here precisely of the linage of Esau, which were called Edomites and Idumaeans:1 yet notwithstanding, as we shall see hereafter in the song, God declareth that according as he made §50the partitions and stretched out his mete-line, so were the realms and countries divided. Let us not think that the world is ruled by fortune, and that things are so entangled, but that God guideth all by his providence and power. He then hath stretched out his mete-line to appoint every people their country to dwell in. But yet for all that, we see how men have transposed those bounds. They will not stick to confess that bounds are a very holy thing. And truly §60[the transgressing in that behalf] shall be more punishable, than if a man had offended in any other deed. Likewise money because it is that thing whereby men intercommon among themselves, is a privilege and (as ye would say) a sacred thing. In like case is it with the bounds [meres, and buttals] of fields: for without them, all would go to havoc, so as men would eat up one another. We will well grant this as in respect of a field or a meadow: but we see that the pride, Ambition, and unsatiable covetousness of men have so carried away their minds, as they have not bin ashamed since to transpose the bounds that God had set. For as touching such as have enterprised wars against their neighbours, to increase themselves: have they not all broken the order which ought to have bin inviolable? yes: So then we see how men are made to spite God through their ambition and covetousness. And yet this mischief continueth still at this day, and is inflamed more than ever it was.
Here wee haue a good lesson to gather, which belongeth to vs all. Although mention be made here precisely of the linage of Esau, which were called Edomites and Idumaeans:1 yet notwithstanding, as we shall see hereafter in the song, God declareth that according as he made §50the partitions and stretched out his meeteline, so were the realmes and countries deuided. Let vs not thinke that the world is ruled by fortune, and that thinges are so intangled, but that God guideth all by his prouidence and power. Hee then hath stretched out his meeteline to appoint euery people their countrey to dwel in. But yet for all that, wee see how men haue transposed those boundes. They will not sticke to confesse that boundes are a very holy thing. And truely