A17698:923
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.
Seeing it is soe why should we exempt our selves from such condition? We ought at leastwise to do to other folks, as we our selves would be done unto. Nature teacheth us that, and we need not go to school to learn it. Then needeth there not any other evidence to condemn us, than our Lords teaching of us aforehand by experience. If we have that: surely we shall be touched with kindness & compassion to succour such as have need and want, and we shall be moved with pity towards them that are in durance, so that if we have the mean and power to relieve them, every of us will strain himself to do it. That is the thing which we have to mark in this place, where it is said, Thou wart a stranger in the land of Egypt, & therefore thou must now have a care to relieve them that are under thy hand: for at that time when thou thy self wast a servant, thou wouldest fain have bin borne withal.
Seeing it is soe why shoulde wee exempt our selues from such condition? We ought at leastwise to do to other folkes, as we our selues would be done vnto. Nature teacheth vs that, and wee neede not goe to schole to learne it. Then needeth there not any other euidence to condemne vs, thā our Lordes teaching of vs aforehand by experience. If wee haue that: surely we shalbe touched with kindnes & compassion to succour such as haue neede and want, and we shalbe moued wt pitie towards them that are in durance, so that if wee haue the meane and power to releeue them, euerie of vs will straine himselfe to doe it. That is the thing which wee haue to marke in this place, where it is said, Thou wart a straunger in the land of Egypt, & therefore thou must now haue a care to releeue them that are vnder thy hand: for at that time when thou thy self wast a seruant, thou wouldest faine haue bin borne withall.
But let us come now to such as were not of the Jewish nation, but only traffickers among them. God will have them also to keep the Sabbath day, & yet were they not sanctified of God, ⟨p. 111⟩neither could this sign belong to them, as I have said already. It seemeth then that God unhalloweth the Sacrament, when he maketh it so common to the Infidels, & to such as were not circumcised to bear the mark of the covenant, & to such as had not the law & the promises. But we have to mark, that Gods speaking of strangers in this place, is as having always an eye to the people whom he had chosen and adopted. For we know that if things should be permitted which are contrary