A17698:3327
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.
yea and sentence shall be given, and yet slip away unexecuted: Surely it is a token of too gross blockishness in those which should give strength to the law, that it might not be unprofitable. That then is y• thing which God declareth in the first place §10For speaking of the executing of sentence, he sayeth: Let the just be declared for such a one, and let him which hath done wrong be condemned; let him be punished according to his deserts. Now hereby he giveth us to understand that we must not let any such faults scape as ought to be punished; neither behoveth it us alonely to show our zeal in punishing of great enormities: but also to consider that smaller faults draw on the greater when they are let §20alone as buried. God therefore pronounceth expressly that the malefactor shall be punished. And when? Not only when he hath offended so grievously that his fault is unpardonable: but if the fault be little, he will have the punishment and correction answerable thereunto: he will not have men to say: O it is a small fault: let it pass. Well, the matter is not great, he may escape the better cheap. No: how small soever his offence be, he will have §30him smart for it, and be an example unto others. Let us therefore weigh this word well, yea, let us weigh it so much the better because we see that the practise nowadays runneth clean contrary: for men seek nothing else but to lessen their faults. In deed a man shall not be altogether excused when he hath offended: but yet nevertheless he which doeth the wrong shall find always some advocate to plead for him, yea even without bearing the name of it.§40 He ought to be as a Judge in the case; and yet he will so mitigate the fault as it shall not be punishable, fair glosses shall still be found to colour the matter withal: O sir will one say: There is such a circumstance, there is this and that to be considered in the case: & so the tenth part of mens faults shall not be punished. For why? They be not found so grievous and heinous as they be in deed. No, but yet for all it, if the fault be small, God will have the chastisement answerable §50thereunto; and if it be great, he will have the punishment the more severe and grievous. Thus ye see in effect what we have to bear in mind.