A17698:3192
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.
But now let us treat of the matter of divorcement. As touching civill order, a man was permitted to put away his wife, but so, as he gave her a bill for a witness of her honesty, to the intent that the wife through the cruelty or waywardness of her husband, might not be defamed: but that men should be given to understand, that she for her part ordered §50her self honestly, and that she was not put away for any fault of hers. Ye see what is to be noted in respect of civill order. Now if a man demand whether such manner of divorcements be nowadays permitted? Let us consider of that which our Lord Jesus Christ sayeth concerning this matter. Was it not forbidden you (sayeth he,1) because of the hardness of your hearts? Now then although such a permission were granted unto §60the Jews, yet notwithstanding, the like is not given us nowadays. For the having of moe wives than one was permitted them likewise, as we have seen heretofore, because it was not punished: and should we therefore look nowadays to have the like liberty in that behalf? No. For we see that because God hath revealed his will more fully unto us, than unto the Jews, it is good reason that we have a straiter bridle than they had: yea and the liberty which is given unto us, ought to bind us so much the more in this behalf, than were the Jews. For as concerning ceremonies, and other such like things, the Jews were under as strait bondage as none might be greater. They were loaden with such a burden, as made them to bend and to sigh under it. And for this cause it is said, that the law bringeth nought else but fear.2 Now we are freed from this so heavy yoke. I mean in respect of the ceremonies; but as for the rest, we are a great deal more bound to walk according unto the will of our GOD. So that all these divorcements and this having of moe wives than one, ought nowadays to be abhorred among Christians, although among the Jews there was liberty granted for these things, and they remained unpunished. Let this be noted touching the rule of civill order.
But nowe let vs treate of the matter of diuorcement. As touching ciuill order, a man was permitted to put away his wife, but so, as hee gaue her a bill for a witnesse of her honestie, to the intent that the wife through the crueltie or waywardnesse of her husband, might not bee diffamed: but that men should be giuen to vnderstand, that shee for her parte ordered