A17698:941
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.
Howbeit, this thing must as well warn them that are in authority, as them that are under subjection. Then if men and women have children: they must understand and that there is no subjection due unto them, except they themselves be overruled by God. Now then what is to be done? Let the father train up his child diligently in the fear of God,1 and begin himself to show him the way. Let the mother do the like, that God may have his honour both of great & small,2 old and young. Let magistrates endeavour to have God served and honoured, & (as much as in them lieth) maintain all things that may make thereto: and seeing he hath done them the honour to make them worthy to sit in the seat that is dedicated to his majesty, & to bear the sword that is consecrated unto him: let them show themselves to be his officers in deed. Seeing then that he hath advanced them to such dignity, whereof they were not worthy: let them at the least show that they bear authority in his name, & let them refer the same unto him. After this manner ought princes to discharge their duties. The like ought every man to do in his own house and family.3 Let those to whom God hath granted the prerogative to have menservants & womenseruants, bear well in mind that they themselves have a Master above all, & that he must be so obeyed, as his whole right be reserved to him undiminished. Lo what instruction all Superiors (of what degree soever they be) ought to take of this that they are commanded to obey God. Furthermore when fathers & mothers and magistrates will needs advance themselves against God with such tyranny, as to take upon them that which belongeth only to god, & to turn us away from the obeying of him: it is an exception which I have set down before, for the which they ought not to be obeyed. God then must go foremost, & afterward the creatures must follow, every one in his order of array. And in very deed, oftentimes the cause why meekness & humility be so il kept in the world, that children set themselves against their fathers and mothers, and become like mad beasts: that subjects are full of spitefulness and rebellion: that servants are untrusty & stubborn: and that none of all these can by any means be reclaimed: is the just punishment of God upon superiors, for abusing of the dignity which God hath given them.