A17698:994
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.
But when a merchant taketh more for his ware than it is worth, or if he sell unlawful wares, and the simple man that knoweth nothing of it is beguiled, and wotteth not how to wind himself out of the snare: men deem not this to be theft. Yet notwithstanding such a merchant is a thief though no man condemn him, because he hath dealt so unconscionably. Surely he that hath bin bitten will be a good and rightful judge in that case: if he spy the collusion, he will by and by say, he doth me wrong. We need not to go to any doctor, [Sergeant, Counsellor,] or great clerk to show us that we have wrong don us: every of us knows it well enough: but yet for all this, we discern not the same kind of theft in our selves, neither do we sufficiently ⟨p. 231⟩consider it. Yet notwithstanding, God will not fail to judge him for a thief, which shall have so abused a simple man, by delivering him unlawful wares, seeing he hath beguiled him for want of judgement and skill. Likewise he that overselleth his wares to an unskilful person therein, is a thief as well as the other. Again, if a handicrafts man make slight or false stuff, and the fault be not perceived, but he maketh what he can of it, not regarding to sell it according §10to the value of it, but how to enrich himself, alleging these excuses for himself: he with whom I have to deal is a rich man, it is all one to me, he hath a good purse. A man doth in deed use these speeches: but yet true it is, that albeit his shifts may well serve him to the worldward, yet shall Gods Justice still have his course and take hold of him. When every man hath bin asked his opinion, and all agree that it is no theft at all: yet will not God unsay his word for §20our pleasure. Ye see then that the thefts which men let slip, shall nevertheless come to account before God, notwithstanding that the takers of such liberty, would never so fain have the lewdness pardoned them. For behold, Gods Law is unchangeable, as I have told you already: and it shall be showed hereafter that it carieth execution with it.
But when a marchant taketh more for his ware than it is woorth, or if hee sell vnlawfull wares, and the simple man that knoweth nothing of it is beguiled, and woteth not how to winde himselfe out of the snare: men deeme not this to be theft. Yet notwithstanding such a marchant is a theef though no man condemne him, because hee hath dealt so vnconscionably. Surely hee that hath bin bitten will bee a good and rightfull iudge in that case: if hee spy the collusion, hee will by and by say, hee doth me wrong. We need not to goe to any doctor, [Sergeant, Coūseller,] or great cleark to shewe vs yt we haue wrōg don vs: euery of vs knowes it wel enough: but yet for al this, we discern not ye same kinde of theft in our selues, neither doe we sufficiently