A17717:203
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.
When we render not unto a man that which of right appertaineth unto him, let us know that this iniquity shall be accounted as theft before God, and we shall be condemned therefore. But now it remaineth, that we consider how we shall walk in such sort that God accuse us not as thieves. This shall be, if first of all we love our neighbours, as Saint Paul declareth in the 13.1 to the Romans. And this is to be marvelled at, that we account the matter so small, to spoil another of his goods, seeing that if one should demand us this puestion, whether this is to love our neighbours, and whether it be an hard thing to love them, we would say no. For nature would knit men together in this unity, and God hath formed them all unto his image and likeness, and therefore this ought not to seem a thing over hard and grievous to love together. Now so it is, that if we have charity, we shall never steal, as Saint Paul sayeth: yea, if ye would consider of that right and duty which we owe unto men, and how we are bound unto them, we needed ⟨p. 73⟩not all these admonitions & warnings, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not murder, as S. Paul hath declared in that place. But what? There are very few which think hereon. But contrariwise, as I have said, we are full of vain excuses: when we have pilled one of his goods, when we have used any fraud, any malicious dealing, any extortion, we have one excuse or other ready at hand to serve us. But yet it appeareth by our deeds, that we have no charity, that we are as brute beasts: briefly, that we are not worthy to be numbered among men, seeing we break the bond of union, in the which God would couple together all the children of Adam. Lo then, for the first note let us learn this lesson of charity, if we will not be thieves. For the second, let us note, that we covet not to be rich. For as soon as this desire of gain shall be in us, it is certain we shall play the thieves: it can not be otherwise. One shall at first sight think it strange: but yet, when every one shall have awakened his understanding, nature shall teach us, as the Ethnics knew well to say, that it is impossible to desire to be rich, but we shall forthwith be inflamed to scrape unto our selves by hook or by crook, the goods of an other. Will we then fly and avoid theft?
When we render not vnto a man that which of right apperteineth vnto him, let vs know that this iniquitie shall be accounted as theft before God, and we shall be condemned therefore. But now it remaineth, that we consider howe we shall walke in such sort that God accuse vs not as theeues. This shall be, if first of all we loue our neighbours, as Saint Paul declareth in the 13.