A17698:919
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.
And by the way we be warned, that if any have authority over others, they must not despise their neighbours though they be their inferiors. And this reacheth very far. For we must not interpret it only of menservants and womenseruants: but also of the poor, of such as are not of authority or estimation, of all underlings & subjects, & of all such as (to our seeming) are not worthy to be compared or matched with us in respect of the world. For we see what the pride of men is. Although there be no cause why we should advance our selves: yet doth every of us covet some preeminence. Now then, if we be so high minded, that every of us could find in his heart to overpeer his neighbour, yea even though there be no reason why: what will we do if we be advanced in deed? Look upon such as sit in seat of Justice: they bear themselves in hand that the whole world (as ye would say) was made for none but them, except God bridle them by his holy spirit, & show them that they ought to walk in all manner of mildness, & not oppress those that are under their charge, but rather behave themselves as fathers, & account of their subjects as of their children, yea & that because God honoureth them, ⟨p. 210⟩therefore they ought to live in the greater humility. As for those that preach Gods word, and have the charge to direct others: if they think they ought to be exempted from the common sort, & despise other men: woe worth them. For it were better for them to break their necks in going up into the Pulpit, than not to strain them selves to be the first that should lead a godly conversation, & live quietly with their neighbours, & show themselves to be sheep of the flock of our §10Lord Jesus Christ. But yet for all this, it is true that rich men may well be served by the poor. If a man have menservants & womenseruantes for wages, he will not set his servant above himself at the table, neither will he lay him in his own bed: but yet, (notwithstanding all superiority,) we must come to this point,1 that we be knit together as one flesh, & that all of us are created after the image of God. If we considered that as many as come of Adams race are our own flesh & bone:§20 ought it not to move us unto kindness, though we were as wild beasts one to another? When the Prophet Isaiah meant to reprove men for their unnaturalness: