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

Know we therefore, that when our Lord will, that the life of our neighbours be dear and precious unto us, he teacheth us withal, that he which shall not aide and help his neighbours in their necessity, slayeth them, as much as in him lieth. And so let us remember, that we shall not only then be guilty of murder, when we bear some privy rancour and evil will against our neighbours: but that then also, when we shall not have relieved, and succoured them in their needs and extremities, when we shall not have employed all our pains for them when they stand in need of our help: we shall be culpable of manslaughter before the face of GOD. Seeing it is so, we must not in this place seek how to flatter our selves: for we see what the rigour of the law is, albeit in no point excessive. For can we so refuse and take our leave of GOD, as not to be knit and united together with men, whom he hath created to his own image and likeness? Shall we not bear this reverence to him, who is our father, that we live in a fraternity and brotherhood one with an other, seeing he hath linked us together in such a bond? Shall we say that God presseth us overmuch, that he layeth upon us to heavy a burden, when he leadeth and directeth us to such equity and uprightness? Howsoever the case standeth, ⟨image 64⟩let us take heed we flatter not our selves, when we have intelligence of the mind of our Lord, who will have us employ our selves, & bestow all our aides to aide and help one another, seeing the life of our neighbours ought to be so precious unto us, as it is dear unto him. Now have we the exposition and meaning of this commandment, Thou shalt do no murder. What resteth then, but that we pray unto God, so to guide and conduct us, that we may as we ought, frame and conform our selves unto his will? For it is to no purpose to allege that his words are obscure and hard, or to allege that there are so many commandments, that we cannot bear them in mind. For God hath spoken and declared his mind in one word, and used such brevity, even for this cause only, to bereave us of all excuse. Again, that we might not allege that we know not at which end, or where to begin, the better to understand the meaning of this commandment, he teacheth us this point also:

Knowe wee therefore, that when our Lorde will, that the life of our neighbours bee deare and pretious vnto vs, he teacheth vs withall, that he whiche shall not aide and helpe his neighbours in their necessitie, slaieth them, as much as in him lieth. And so let vs remember, that we shall not onelie then bee guiltie of murder, when wee beare some priuie rancour and euill will against our neighbours: but that then also, when wee shall not haue relieued, and succoured them in their needes and extremities, when wee shall not haue employed all our paines for them when they stande in neede of our helpe: wee shalbe culpable of manslaughter before the face of GOD. Seeing it is so, wee must not in this place seeke howe to flatter our selues: for wee see what the rigour of the lawe is, albeit in no point excessiue. For can wee so refuse and take our leaue of GOD, as not to bee knitte and vnited together with men, whom he hath created to his owne image and likenesse? Shall wee not beare this reuerence to him, who is our father, that wee liue in a fraternitie and brotherhod one with an other, seeing he hath lincked vs together in such a bond? Shall we say that God presseth vs ouermuch, that he laieth vpon vs to heauie a burthen, when he leadeth and directeth vs to such equitie and vprightenesse? Howsoeuer the case standeth,