A17698:3349
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.
Now here a man might demand how it comes to pass that GOD would have the brother whichsoever lived to take the wife of him that was dead, seeing that such marriage was not lawful, as we see in the eighteenth §10chapter of Leviticus.1 Seeing it was incest for one to take his brothers wife after his death, how happeneth it that GOD not only permitteth, but also enjoineth it? The Jews confess that this is not spoken of brethren in the first degree, that is, of borne brothers as we call them, but rather of such as were further off of kin; and the very word it self also doeth properly extend no further than to such as might contract marriage together.§20 In deed in the example which we have afore alleged, the brethren which were of the first degree took Tamar to wife, and GOD rooted them out for their filthiness; but the Law was not yet made. And in the East Country they had no great regard of honesty, but behaved themselves like beasts in marrying, in so much that they made no conscience to couple the brother and sister together like dogs and b••hes. There was (I say) such wickedness used §30in that Country, yea even among the kings and Princes. In deed they be the persons which take unto themselves greatest leave and liberty in this behalf: but the common sort (as I told you) did the like too. And according to this common custom Judah (after the death of his eldest son) gave his second son also unto Tamar. And herein we see the rather, what it is to be carried away by custom. When we have no other consideration than to do according §40to the custom which hath been maintained aforetimes among men, we fall into horrible confusion: & when one follows another's fashion after that sort, there is no rule. But whatsoever men do, let us learn to behave our selves according unto the will of God, and not turn either to this side or that side, but abide stable and constant in that which God liketh of. That is the thing which we must bear in mind, when we see that things have bin so far out of square through out the §50world, and that the fathers of old time have bin blemished with them: for when we dwell in a lawless Country where every man hath the bridle laid on his neck and may do what him liketh, we be then as in a tempest or in a whirl wind, a man cannot stay himself but that the wind will drive him to and fro.