A17698:3554
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.
It followeth; Cursed shall he be which shall have taken gifts to do any wrong to his neighbour, and specially to smite the soul of the innocent blood. For so doth Moses speak word for word. Nevertheless, the word Soul meaneth life. And because the blood is the proper seat of life: therefore is it said the Soul of the Innocent blood. Surely although a man be faulty, yet were it not lawful to buy & sell his life. But I have told you already,§60 that God hath set before us the crimes that are most detestable, to the intent to waken us the better, because we be not sufficiently moved when he speaketh of common faults. For those things slip away, and we bear our selves in hand, that it is no heard matter to get forgiveness of them. Now for as much as there is so great slackness in men: therefore in this place God hath chosen the offences which even of nature we ought to abhor. For if the life of an innocent person be bought and sold: it is an horrible matter; every man will say, that such wicked conspiracy is not to be suffered. Thus do we now see the meaning of God. But although this thing be sufficiently condemned with full mouth: yet do not men cease to put it too much in ure. And for proof hereof, look upon the practises that are wrought continually to oppress the poor and simple sort. True it is that they shall not always be in danger to have their throats cut: but yet for hurting of them, what in their persons, and what in their goods, men are still guilty of murder before God. And as for the seeking of byways to disappoint the right of the innocent, and the practising of devices against such as seek to live in peace and concord, it is too common a thing: and therefore this law is no more than needeth. True it is (as I have said afore) that at the first push we can well enough say, that there is no reason why we should continue in so great and so excessive frowardness; every man will say by and by, it is against nature: but yet the common use and custom is clean contrary. And therefore let us mark well the doctrine that is set down here; namely that God cannot abide so great a crime unpunished, as the disappointing of the right, whereby the party that hath not offended should be oppressed against all right and reason.
It followeth; Cursed shall hee bee which shall haue taken gifts to doe any wrong to his neighbour, and specially to smite the soule of the innocent bloud. For so doth Moses speake word for worde. Neuerthelesse, the word Soule meaneth life. And bicause the bloud is the proper seate of life: therefore is it sayde the Soule of the Innocent blood. Surely although a man be faultie, yet were it not lawfull to buy & sel his life. But I haue told you already,