A17698:979
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.
For in so saying, Solomon showeth that God is the Lord of marriage, and therefore that if the husband break the promise which he hath made to his wife, he is forsworn, not only towards her, but also towards God. In like case is it on the woman's behalf. She doth wrong, not only to her husband, but also to the living God. For it is he to whom she bindeth §10her self: & like as he hath ordained wedlock and is the author thereof, so will he have a care for the maintaining thereof. Therefore when we hear the word Adultery: we ought to loth it, as an express defying of God, by wilful breaking of the holy bond which he hath set in marriage, like mad beasts. And hereby we see in what estimation he hath honesty. Why so? When he will have us sober, chaste, and modest: he saith, If ye be not honest and well stayed, ye be no better §20than Aduowterers. That is to say, whatsoever excuse ye pretend before men, and make ye your faults never so small and light: I hate ye, for ye stink, & your whole life is infected in my sight. We see then as I said afore, that here is a strait commandment to keep our selves honest & chaste. And hereby it appeareth how fond their excuse is, which say they do no man wrong, when they be full of disorder and unruliness. For our Lord knoweth well enough to what end he used §30such speech. It was not for that he was tongue-tied & wist not how to utter things in order: but because he intended to show, that if men made but a small matter of wantonness and unchastity: there is another balance [for them to be tried by:] namely that he condemneth & accurseth all those for adulterers, which behave themselves unhonestly or unchastely. Therefore we have so much the more need to weigh well the words that are set down here, where he saith Thou shalt not be an Adulterer. §40But yet herewithall we must follow the degrees that are contained under this commandment.
For in so saying, Salomon sheweth that God is the Lorde of mariage, and therefore that if the husband breake the promise which hee hath made to his wife, hee is forsworne, not onely towardes her, but also towardes God. In lyke case is it on the womans behalfe. Shee doth wrong, not onely to her husband, but also to the liuing God. For it is he to whom she bindeth §10