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

regarding always, that we be moved hereto by charity and brotherly love. And so, when we shall pray God to conduct us in this thing, and to govern us by his holy spirit, a man shall not be able to count it an injury done to him, when we shall have told him of his faults roundly, and yet charitably. Ye see then what we have to observe touching this commandment: namely, that we must not open our mouth to speak one word slanderously, and maliciously, against our neighbour: and yet in the mean time, that we reprove simply and plainly, such as shall have offended, as we would men should have a care to correct and amend us in the like case. When we shall use such equity and discreet dealing: behold, we shall not be false witnesses. Moreover, let us note, that when mention is made here of falsehood, we are not only forbidden to forge and invent a lie, in such sort, that that we shall say, be falsely contrived and devised without any colour at all: but if we maliciously deprave that which in it self is not evil, we bear herein false witness. As it is said, that they which deposed against our Lord Jesus Christ, that he had said, Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will build it up again,¹ were false witnesses, and yet it is certain, that Jesus Christ had so spoken: that is to say, had pronounced these very words with his mouth. They then which recite them, why are they called false witnesses? The reason is, because they turned the words of the son of God into an other sense than he had spoken them: and so sought to bring him into hatred, charging him with so wicked a slander, as if he had spoken of the material temple of Jerusalem, when he spake of his own body, which was the true temple, in the which dwelt all the fullness of the God head:² for he was God manifested in the flesh. So then, we see that the falsehood which God here condemneth, is not then only committed, when we contrive a lie, when we forge that which was never said or done, when we devise a tale never known or heard of before: but then also, when we shall have maliciously disguised and altered a matter which might be well interpreted, turning it to an evil sense, when it might be well meant: and herein we be false witnesses. For example.

regarding alwayes, that we be moued hereto by charitie and brotherlie loue. And so, when we shall pray God to conduct vs in this thing, and to gouerne vs by his holie spirit, a man shall not be able to count it an iniurie done to him, when we shal haue told him of his faultes roundly, and yet charitably. Ye see then what we haue to obserue touching this commaundement: namely, that we must not open our mouth to speake one worde slaunderously, and maliciously, against our neighbour: and yet in the meane time, that we reproue simply and plainly, such as shall haue offended, as we woulde men should haue a care to correct and amend vs in the like case. When we shall vse such equitie and discreete dealing: behold, we shall not bee false witnesses. Moreouer, let vs note, that when mention is made here of falshoode, we are not only forbidden to forge and inuent a lie, in such sort, that that we shal say, be falsly contriued and deuised without anie colour at all: but if we maliciously depraue that which in it self is not euill, we beare herein false witnesse. As it is said, that they which deposed against our Lorde Iesus Christ, that he had said, Destroy this Temple, and in three daies I will build it vp again,