A17698:995
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.
Again sith it is so that we must not go to work with craft and subtlety: we must come §30back to natural uprightness, which is to do nothing to another which we would not have don to our selves.1 Seeing we have such a rule, we need no huge volumes to teach us that we should not steal: for every man may know in one word, how to behave himself towards his neighbours: that is to wit, that he deal not lewdly, that he go not about to enrich himself by other mens losses, and that he rake not other mens goods to him as his own. Thus needeth there not any §40moe words than this: and then the fairest coverings & countenances that we have, would vanish away. For when we have once beguiled men: we bear our selves in hand that we have likewise bleared the eyes of God. Let us take an example whereby this point may be plainlyer perceived. He that hath gotten away another mans goods by suit at the law, thinks himself to have as just title as can be to possess them. Why so? because he hath them by order of §50law. I will forbear to say, that perchance the law was corrupted. Of a trueth there are that make law a flat thievery by their bribing and other wicked practises, so as they overthrow all right and equity, and the court of Justice becometh oftentimes as a market to sell other mens right in, and to pervert all equity. And although it be not so: yet if a man find the means to get another mans goods by craft and subtlety: allege he never so much that Law hath so §60judged it, and therefore that there is not a better nor a rightfuller title in the world: yet is it double theft, and he had bin much better to have robbed and spoiled his neighbours house, than to have gotten his goods so unjustly by order of law. Why so? For in so doing there is theft, yea and the theft is committed under colour of Justice, which is a most holy thing: and that is a treachery that God cannot abide. If a house be robbed, it shall be grievously punished: and is it not far worse than robbery, when the seat of Justice which God hath dedicated to his own majesty, is so disordered that all things are turned upside down and confounded? So then let us mark well, that what pretence soever we can make before men: Gods law shall still keep on his course: insomuch that if we use any craftiness or krinking, or any extortion or violence: