A17698:3329
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.
So then let us learn to understand, that our Lord showeth himself very gentle and pitiful towards us, in that we live still in this world and are nourished still at his hands, and in that he beareth so mercifully with us. For why? Our faults towards him are innumerable, and we should be killed with stripes if he used not this inestimable goodness which I have spoken of.
So then lette vs learne to vnderstande, that our Lorde sheweth himselfe very gentle and pitifull towardes vs, in that we liue still in this worlde and are nourished still at his handes, and in that he beareth so mercifully with vs. For why? Our faults towardes him are innumerable, and wee shoulde be killed with stripes if he vsed not this inestimable goodnesse which I haue spoken of.
Moreover secondly in this place here is mention made of moderating the chastisements which are used. For the Judges ought always to consider that they sit in Justice in the behalf of GOD, and therefore into that seat which is holy and dedicated to the doing of right, they may not bring their own passions, to feed their own choler, and to deal crossly and overthwartly as they themselves list. God therefore in saying, that there shall be a certain number of stripes, declareth expressly that there must be a reasonable measure used in punishing. Verily when a man is not to be clean rooted out, but to live still in the world, God will not have him maimed that he should become unprofitable as touching his body. For what a thing were it if a man should be so rigorously handled as to be made a cripple so as he can no more help himself? It were better he had been put to death at the first, than to be left to pine away in this world, and to be as a block. Now therefore when a man is to be left alive still, GOD will have the Judges to ⟨p. 876⟩have a regard that he be not beaten or scourged in such wise as he be disfigured or made unable to help himself. That is the very thing which God will have men to look unto. And for the same cause he setteth down here the number of stripes, to wit, forty stripes, and that at the most. Now the Jews being full of Ceremonies took away one stripe: and it is the manner of men to add always somewhat to the law of God, as though all perfection were not contained in it.