A17698:3536
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, to wrest or hinder the Right; is nothing else but unjustly & without cause to oppress the feeble and weak, and such as have no body to support and maintain them. Truly that manner of speech is set down in the holy scripture, which is all one §20with this which we be wont to say, to dash a good case, but yet in general it is as much to say, as, to disappoint a man of his right. Now therefore, when I pill a man, when I rake to my self the things that belong to him, when I strip him out of his substance, when I thrust him out of all that ever he hath, when I overmaster him, and I take more upon me than becometh me: then do I hinder his right. And so we see (as I said afore) that in this text God showeth that he will §30be the Judge of all the outrages which are done to such as have no means to revenge themselves, and are forsaken & forgotten on the behalf of men. But were we well advised, surely we would be more afraid to have God our adversary party, than all the whole world together. And in deed therein we show, that we give small credit to Gods word: in so much that if a man be of great kindred & have many friends, if a man be rich or highly favoured of the world: we dare not meddle §40with him; & although he have molested us, yet will we sweetly swallow it up, & in any wise beware that we provoke him not. Thus will men bear with all such as have wherewith to maintain themselves to the worldward; when in the mean while they that are destitute shall be pilled & eaten up. Yet notwithstanding God is their defender, and saith, that in oppressing such folk, we make war against him, and therefore that he also must be fain to lift up his arm in the maintenance §50of those whom he hath taken into his protection. But men care not for that: and do we not thereby bewray our unbelief? For had we a true and lively feeling that God jesteth not here, in telling us that his curse shall light upon those which shall so have mistreated the feeble sort and such as have no maintainers: it is certain that we would quake whensoever we were tempted to do evil to any poor creature that hath no stay, credit or authority in the world. I see §60this man hath no kinsfolk nor friends; I see no man regardeth him; I see he is undefended: now if I advance my self against him, or if I trouble him;