A17717:163
Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of GodSermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God
Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of God by Moses, otherwise called the Decalogue. Gathered word for word, presently at his sermons, when he preached on Deuteronomy, without adding unto, or diminishing from them any thing afterward. Translated out of French into English, by I.H.Sermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God by Moses, otherwise called the Decalogue. Gathered word for word, presently at his sermons, when he preached on Deuteronomie, without adding vnto, or diminishing from them any thing afterward. Translated out of Frenche into English, by I.H.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for John Harison, 1579London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Iohn Harison, 1579
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.
That is the intent and meaning of Magistrates, when they make their laws. And why? They are mortal men, they can not reform the inward and hidden affections:1 this appertaineth unto GOD, they sound not the heart: for this is the proper office of GOD, as the holy scripture attributeth ⟨image 62⟩it unto him. But yet this notwithstanding, when a civil law is made, although one shed not one drop of blood: yet is he adjudged worthy to be led to the gallows, if it shall be known and proved, that he endeavoured with all his might to have murdered one. If a man hath drawn his sword upon one who wardeth off the blows, in such sort, that he touched not his skin: yet notwithstanding, the laws, even of the Paynims, condemn such a man to the gibbet, as well worthy thereof. And why? For the law regardeth not what is happened, but respecteth the counsel and purpose of men. Seeing then earthly Princes and Magistrates punish him, which endeavoureth with all his might to do evil, although being hindered, he be not come to the full end of his enterprise, what shall be thought of God? Shall he have less authority than a mortal creature? Behold (I say) to what point we ought to come, if we will know, that of good right God condemneth all them, which hate their neighbours. And why? Consider we (I say) what his nature is. Will we therefore observe this commandment? We must begin in short and summary wise with murder. And why? For God would have us prevented and foretaken with some fright and horror, that when we think of hurting our neighbours, of committing any violence, of doing any injury, we remember that this is an horrible and detestable thing, which he can by no means be able to suffer. And why? Because this is a kind of murder. Ye see then how GOD at the first would daunt us, and this is the point whereat we ought to begin. And if we think it a strange thing, that God condemneth one box on the ear for murder: nay, one verbal injury, as we may term it, which is done but in a word: yea, one wayward grudging, be it never so secretly hidden within us, if we account it strange, that this be condemned as murder before God, let us consider what his nature is, and that he deserveth to have more yielded unto him than unto mortal men. But earthly Judges punish an evil and wicked affection, when it showeth it self:
That is the intent and meaning of Magistrates, when they make their lawes. And why? They are mortall men, they can not refourme the inwarde and hidden affections: