A17698:772
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.
Whereas it is said that inquisition must be made [whether there were any malice borne] to day or yesterday or of any time afore: it is a manner of speech §20that is rife in the Hebrew tongue, whereby is meant whether any hatred or rancour were perceived to have bin betwixt them at any time before. And why? For it is to be presumed that where there is any hatred, the party goeth to work with malice. And contrariwise, if it be found: that there was no quarrel, no ill will, no hatred, no rancour: can it be said that the manslaughter was committed of malice and set purpose? No. And hereby we be put in mind, that the life and conversation §30of a man ought to direct and lead us to the finding out of the matter. True it is that we ought always to judge of matters without respect of persons, and we must ever have an eye to the deed & to the desert of the case as they term it: but that is for the time coming. I mean not that definitive sentence should be given according to that which hath been known by a man aforetimes: but how should men deal to come to the trueth of things done? Let them §40consider what manner a one the man hath bin. I see that one is a despiser of GOD, I see a lewd unthrift that hath neither faith nor honesty in him, I see a drunkard that is full of fury and passeth no more to murder a man than to cut the throat of a Capon or a Hen: I see this: also I see he is a quarreller, and is ever working of some mischief or other, yea I see and can point one with my finger that seeketh to bring all goodness to decay and to put all things §50out of order: I see all this: now I pray you is not this a good inducement to lead me to the trueth of the matter, by comparing the fault that he shall have committed, with his former life? As for example, a man is found at some murder, or apprehended for some other misdeed that he is charged with: and because there is not sufficient witness, he will deny that he knows any thing of it: notwithstanding, by the marks that God showeth me of him, I see his §60whole life is as an evidence against him. If I were to take information of the whole matter, and had a dozen witnesses that could say unto me, this is the murderer:
Whereas it is said that inquisition must bee made [whether there were any malice borne] to day or yesterday or of any time afore: it is a manner of speache