A17698:3539
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 Moses addeth further, Cursed be he which lieth with his fathers wife, Cursed be he which lieth with a beast, with his own Sister, or with his Mother in law. This place treateth of all the infamous sorts of lechery, yea even of the loathsomest sorts of them; whether it be incest or ⟨p. 933⟩buggery or such other infections. And it is not without cause that God chooseth out those kinds; for it is to the end that we should be touched with the more fear and terror when we go about any kind of Lechery. God could have said simply in one word, Cursed shall he be which committeth any lechery: and in very deed, that is the mark whereat this text aimeth. Nevertheless he contenteth not himself so, but (as I said) he chooseth the examples §10which are most outrageous. And why? To the intent we should be touched the more to the quick. For we see how slow we be in hearkening to the things which God telleth us. We have his word; but what for that? It passeth away. We will not stick to say, that it behoveth us to keep our selves from breaking his Law. But if vices be spoken of but in a word or twain, shall they be esteemed as they ought to be, that is to say, as crimes before God which deserve §20endless death? We see how every man dispenseth with himself, so as the privy thief maketh no conscience of filching, till of a petty thief, he becometh a robber; and then (to his seeming) all is nothing that he hath done afore, except he become a murderer and a cutter of mens throats. Thus do men proceed in degrees of Thievery: and as much do they also in Lechery. For they make account of it but as of a thing of nothing, until they fall into the greatest §30extremities. Forasmuch then as we be dulled, so as we be not touched with any such fear as were requisite, when God condemneth sin and would pluck us back from it: therefore it is needful that he should set before us the examples that are most detestable, even such as (spite of our teeth) must needs make the hair to stand on end on our heads when we hear them named; to the intent that no man should beguile himself with fond flattery, but every man be well ware that §40he hold himself under the obedience of God. Here then we see two things: The one is, that GOD hath condemned all unchastity, and all manner of Lechery: