A17698:959
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.
Let us mark moreover, that God, to the intent to lead us by little and little to live well, setteth us down the things that are most hateful that we might learn to keep our selves from §30evil doing. As for example, he could have said, ye shall do no wrong nor violence to your neighbours: he could well have said so: but he listed to set down the word Murder. And why? Because it is a thing against nature, when men go about to wipe out Gods image after that fashion. Needs then must we abhor murder, if we be not stark beasts. Howe be it, this teacheth us that there is not a more heinous thing, nor a thing that we ought to abhor §40more, than murder. GOD therefore to tie us the shorter and to withhold us from all annoying, and from all wrong dealing, telleth us that we must not defile our hands with the blood of our neighbours. Well then: If a man abstain from murder, is that all? No not by a great deal, as shall be showed anon, and as the matter affordeth already at the first entrance into it. For Gods intent is to hold both our hearts and our thoughts in subjection,§50 and he will be served so purely at our hands, as we nourish not any ill will towards our neighbours. Why then speaketh he of murder? [It is all one] as if he should say, although ye had no law written, but were as heathen men: yet ought ye to have this printed in your hearts, that murder is a shameful and ugly thing. Now I tell you, that as many as do any outrage to their neighbours, as many as devise any mischief against them, and as many as nourish §60any hatred and rancour in their hearts:1 I account and condemn them all for murderers. Thus ye see the cause why GOD useth that term.
Let vs marke moreouer, that God, to the intent to leade vs by little and little to liue well, setteth vs downe the thinges that are most hatefull that we might learn to keepe our selues from §30euill doing. As for example, hee coulde haue saide, yee shall doe no wrong nor violence to your neighbours: hee could well haue saide so: but he listed to set downe the word Murther. And why? Because it is a thing against nature, when men goe about to wipe out Gods image after yt fashion. Needes then must we abhorre murther, if we be not starke beastes. Howe be it, this teacheth vs that there is not a more heinous thing, nor a thing that wee ought to abhorre