A17698:960
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 now let us mark well, that it is not for nought that God forbiddeth murder. Why so? For we can have no fellowship with men▪ unless we abstain from all wrong and violence. And under one particular kind, God forbiddeth all. Why so? for had he used long speech: a man might have said, I cannot well bear my lesson in mind, and it is too hard for me. Therefore hath God spoken here in one word, to the intent that his doctrine might be soon learned, and his law be easily borne in remembrance. There needs no great turning over of leaves: we need not to have many great volumes and registers: God hath comprehended the rule of good life in ten words, and that is enough for us. Who is he now that can allege, I have forgotten such an article, I have not borne it away? Howe so? Are we not able to remember so much as half a score words? Now then we see it was Gods will to hold men convicted of shamelessness, if they understand not what they ought to do. And so ye see the cause why he spake so briefly. Moreover he hath (as ye would say) chewed the things to us, that we might learn to submit our selves quietly to him, and that even the veriest idiots might know, that they need not to be great clerks to understand his Law, forasmuch as he hath stooped so low, that there is not so ignorant a poor soul, but he understandeth what is contained in the Law. That is the effect of the matter which we have to remember here.
And nowe let vs marke well, that it is not for nought that God forbiddeth murther. Why so? For wee can haue no fellowshippe with men▪ vnlesse we abstaine from al wrong and violence. And vnder one particular kind, God forbiddeth all. Why so? for had hee vsed long speech: a man might haue saide, I cannot well beare my lesson in minde, and it is too hard for me. Therfore hath God spoken here in one worde, to the intent that his doctrine might be soone learned, and his lawe bee easily borne in rememberance. There needes no great turning ouer of leaues: wee need not to haue many great volumes and registers: God hath comprehended the rule of good life in tenne wordes, and that is ynough for vs. Who is hee nowe that can alledge, I haue forgotten such an article, I haue not borne it away? Howe so? Are wee not able to remember so much as halfe a score wordes? Nowe then wee see it was Gods will to holde men conuicted of shamelesnesse, if they vnderstande not what they ought to doe. And so yee see the cause why hee spake so briefely. Moreouer he hath (as yee woulde say) chawed the thinges to vs, that we might learne to submit our selues quietly to him, and that euen the veriest ydiots might knowe, that they neede not to bee greate clearkes to vnderstande his Lawe, for asmuch as hee hath stooped so lowe, that there is not so ignorant a poore soule, but hee vnderstandeth what is conteined in the Lawe. That is the effect of the matter which wee haue to remember here.