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

We see then how God would here join us together in love and friendship, in as much as he permitteth not any to be hurt in his good name, no more than in his person, or goods. Wherefore, he which defameth his neighbours, he which slandereth them, in what manner so ever, as much as in him lieth maketh as it were war with God, and breaketh the bond of charity, which ought to be between men: and when we shall have well considered all, it is certain, that false reports, slanders, & backbiting, do more harm oftentimes, than do thefts. And so let us know, that if we will obey GOD, we must maintain the honour and credit of our neighbours as much as shall lie in us. For when he hath forbidden us to hurt his good name, he willeth also, on the contrary side, that we maintain the honour and estimation of all. Now it is not sufficiently maintained in his estate, when we harm it not, except we withal procure the good thereof. Now, we ought to proceed by the degrees which God would here signify, when he speaketh of false witness bearing. The first is therefore, that when we shall come into judgement, we take heed of hurting those by any false report, any lying, any forswearing, whose honour and good we are bound to procure. For he which shall bear false witness against his neighbour, he slayeth, he robbeth him as much as in him is, and he doeth all the evil which proceedeth from perjury. True it is, that oftentimes we shall not think hereof,¹ but the thing notwithstanding is so. And this is the cause why GOD commanded in his law, that the witnesses should be the first which should lay hands to the execution of him, which was punished for any evil deed, to the end it might be known, that by their voices, and by their tongues, they had put him to death, and that the witnesses should be put in greater fear of speaking otherwise than the truth, when every one should think he hath to render an account unto God, if he shall have been a witness against any. So then, when question is of being a witness, every one must deeply consider of the matter, and take diligent heed he enlarge not his conscience, but that he speak in pure simplicity, that which he knoweth to be true before God. And here we are to think not only of false witnessings, which shall be against the life of a man:

Wee see then howe God would here ioyne vs together in loue and friendship, in as much as he permitteth not any to bee hurte in his good name, no more than in his person, or goodes. Wherefore, he which defameth his neighbours, he which slaundereth them, in what manner so euer, as much as in him lieth maketh as it were warre with God, and breaketh the bond of charitie, which ought to be betweene men: and when wee shall haue well considered all, it is certeine, that false reportes, slaunders, & backbiting, doe more harme oftentimes, than doe theftes. And so let vs knowe, that if wee will obey GOD, we must mainteine the honour and credit of our neighbours as much as shall lie in vs. For when he hath forbidden vs to hurt his good name, he willeth also, on the contrarie side, that wee mainteine the honour and estimation of all. Now it is not sufficientlie mainteined in his estate, when we harme it not, except we withall procure the good thereof. Nowe, wee ought to proceede by the degrees which God would here signifie, when he speaketh of false witnesse bearing. The first is therefore, that when wee shall come into iudgement, we take heede of hurting those by any false report, any lying, any forswearing, whose honour and good we are bound to procure. For he which shall beare false witnesse against his neighbour, he slaieth, he robbeth him as much as in him is, and he doeth all the euill which proceedeth from periurie. True it is, that oftentimes we shall not thinke hereof,