TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
Syr Thomas Bromley Knight, Lord
Chauncelour of
Counsell, his singular good Lord,
health, prosperitie,
and increase of Honour.
eing
desirous to testifie my duetifull minde towards your good Lordship, I thought
there could be no better meane in all respects, than the dedication of this
present worke; which containeth a large exposition of the whole Lawe of God,
and of the practice thereof in the Commonweale of Israel: whereof the onely
reading with due consideration, may justly commend it many wayes, even to such
as are of greatest learning, wisedom, authoritie and virtue. For if we have an
eye to the author of the groundworke thereof; it is God and not man. If to the Lawemaker; it is the Lawe of the
Judge of the whole world, the lampe of light, the wellspring of wisdome, the
touchstone of truth, the rule of right, the ground of goodnesse, the bond of
blessednesse, the loadstarre to life, the opener of our understanding, and the governour
of our wits: the faithfull following whereof is the way to welfare, the
procurer of peace, the path of true pleasure, the entreatie of immortalitie,
and the harbourer of hapinesse. Or, if we have an eye to the maner of the
delivering thereof; it is most wonderful, accompanied with many great miracles,
signes, and tokens, and honoured with the glory and
majestie of Gods owne presence. If to the intent of the Lawegiver; it is the
repayring and reforming of man according to the Image of his maker, in true
holinesse and righteousnesse. If to the end of the Lawe; it is to drive us unto
Christ, that by him wee might be saved. If to the
obedience which it requireth; it is altogether spirituall, holie and
everlasting. All which things are not
onelie great, but the greatest that can be, and fuller of majestie and glorie
than can be expressed or conceived by man. Againe, if we have an eye to the
partie by whose service and ministery this law was published; hee was a man pecularlie chosen of
God, indued with most excellent giftes, ful of the holy Ghost, such a prophet
as never had his like, (Christ onelie excepted) a figure of Christ, familiar
with God, a perfect paterne of a good governour, and a verie father of his
Commonweale. Or if we have an eye to the parties to whom it was delivered; they
were a people whom God had purposely chosen, redeemed, and delivered from most
miserable thraldome, to the intent to be their King, and to dwell among them,
and that they should be unto him a holie people and a royall Priesthoode for
ever: which things are surelie most excellent and singular prerogatives. And as
for the Preacher of these Sermons, by whom the sayde things are laide foorth,
and expounded to the better understanding of the Reader: it is well knowen,
that for the manifold talents and excellent gifts which God had bestowed upon
him, and for his diligent and most painfull imploying of the same to the
beating downe of Idolatrie and Superstition, to the winning of folke unto God,
and to the edifying of Christs flock: he was in his lifetime, and yet still is,
a man of great reputation and renowme. As for mine owne travell in translating
this worke, I humbly submit the judgement and censure thereof to your Lordships
favourable acceptation, the obtainement whereof shall greatlie increase my
gladnesse in that I have done any thing whereby the Church of GOD is or may bee
any what edified. Written the xxi of
December, 1582.
Your good Lordships most humble
Alwaies at Commaundement,
ARTHUR GOLDING
To the Christian Reader, Grace and
Peace from GOD, etc.
t
is no small favour that wee daily receive from the hands of our God, partly by
the publike ministerie of his word, and partlie by the private reading of such
good workes as by the meanes of manie his faithfull servants he hath published
and spread abroad in this last age of the world. But as thebeholding of this
doth make manie Godly mindes to rejoice in that the see Gods great goodness
striving continuallie toovercome the malice and frowardnesse of mans minde: So
on the otherside it pincheth them at the heart when theyperceive not only what
slender entertainment Gods graces have amongst us, but even what manifest
contempt is offered unto them, while men notwithstanding the wonderful sunshine
of Gods holie trueth, remaine in as great darknesse almost, in respect of
judgement, and be as dissolute and carelesse in their conversation as ever they
were, in the time of the most grosse and palpable blindness. Would to God that
the miserable experience of our dayes were not too plaine a proofe of this
point: And yet this is not spoken either as in dislike of our state with some
discontented people, or to the discrediting and defacing of Gods religion which
we professe, with the practicing Papists (who with one blow at the Gospel,
would if they could, craftily cut the throate both of Religion and policie,)
but in all holie love and affection, to make this carelesse generation more
studious to labour to abound both in sound knowledge of the trueth, and in all
holie obedience to the same. In which
respect, not onelie are these few lines written at this present, but this
notable worke of Master Calvins Sermons upon Deuteronomie published, and that
in our own native Language: wherein what paine and cost hath beene bestowed,
that theymight come foorth as beneficiall to the Christian Reader as might be,
though I my selfe may speake much in trueth as an argument of some weight, to
induce the godly brethren to the buying and reading thereof; yet letting that
point passé as a matter not much to be stoode upon, I minde onely to presse
those things, and that also in very fewe words, which shalbe most material. And
that is: that as al states and conditions of men may out of the same fetch many
profitable points for their instruction both in faith and obedience towards God
and man: So particularly if a man would overthrow Atheists, or confute Papists,
and other Heretickes, or wound the wicked,, or encourage the fainthearted, or
comfort the afflicted conscience cast downe with the sight of Sinne, or
performe any other service towards God, himselfe, or other men, he shall have
matter, and that in great store plentifully ministered unto him for the
performance of these and all other dueties whatsoever. Wherefore I would advise thee (good Reader)
to get it speedily, to reade it diligentlie, to
remember it faithfullie, and to expresse it fruitfullie in thy conversation, to
the glorie of God, the profite of his people, and the salvation of thine owne
soule through Christ. In whom I rest alwaies
Thine unfayned, T. W. the Lord
his unwoorthie Servaunt..
To all the faithfull which hold
the holie faith of the
true
Christian Readers: Greeting in
Jesus Christour Lord and GOD. Amen.
t is not without cause, that the psalme speaking of
the great benefits which GOD had bestowed upon the Jewes, among whom was his
Church at that time, doth chiefly magnifie the grace which he had uttered
toward them in delivering unto them the sure rule of his service, the true
maner of good life, and the right way of salvation, aswell by the writings of
Moses and other his servants, as also by the lively voice of them agreeing with
their writings. For without that all the abundance and
prosperitie which they could have had, had beene but as records against them to
have increased stil the measure of their condemnation. Therefore having
spoken of Gods defending of the gates of the holy citie Jerusalem, of his
blessing upon the inhabiters thereof, of the peace and quietnesse that was in
all coasts about it, and of his carefulnesse in furnishing it with all things
necessarie for te maintenance of the whole people: finally he setteth downe the
principal point whereon the sweetnesse and assurance of all the rest hung,
saying: He hath given forth his word unto Jacob, and his statutes and
judgements unto Israell. And this benefite was at that time peculiar to the
citie of Jerusalem, and to the people that came of Abraham, according as it is
said expresly in the same text, that God had not delt so with any other nation,
nor given them knowledge of his judgements. But we know that Jesus Christ hath
by his coming made the same grace to extend to al nations of the earth, and
that looke whatsoever he had promised by his Prophets in the holy scriptures, he
hath performed it by his holy Apostles, who have preached the Gospell
faithfully, as their writings do authentikely, fully,m
and sufficiently witnesse. This advertisement therefore belongeth as now to all
churches of our Lord Jesus Christ, in what countries soever they be, so as they
ought to acknowledge Gods mercie in that he teacheth them familiarly an in such
language as they may understand, by the reading and preaching of his worde. For
so little ought the long interceasing of so great a benefite (Inforced through
the tyrannie of Antichrist) to make us to holde scorne of it, now that God
renueth the course thereof againe: that contrariwise wee should thinke it the
more sweete and amiable, praying God for restoring us the thing through his
great mercie, which Satans underlings had wickedly bereft us of: acknowledging
that God had beene too sore provoked by the sinnes of the worlde, when he
punished it in such sort: and serving him with such obedience according to his
worde, as we may not provoke him hereafter, to use the like vengeance against
us or our children after us. And no doubt but this lesson is told us throughout
the whole Scripture, from the beginning to the end of it, and specially in the
bookes of the New Testament, wherin the perfection of all learning is
thoroughly comprised, wel written, and faithfully inrolled. Neverthelesse,
forasmuch as the books of Moses the servant of God are as the fountain from
whence all aftercomers, that is to wit both the Prophets and the Apostles, have
drawn water: you will not believe how greatly it is to the benefit and behoofe
of the Church, to confer them with the other books of holy writ. And for the
same cause hath God by his providence preserved them so wonderfully, from so
many dangers through so long a race of so many hundred yeares. For ther,
besides other things, we see the antiquity of our faith, and that the substance
of true religion hath always been one, yea and that the very forme of it ever
tended to the perfection that is fully and infallibly shewed us in the holy
writings of the New Testament. And in very deede whereas S. Peter saith
generally of all the Prophets, that the faithfull do well to take heede to
their wordes, that they maygo foreward in
Christianitie: it is full certaine that therin comprehendeth Moses as the
foremost of them al. And in asmuch as he wrote of Jesus Christ, as Christ
himself avoucheth in expresse words in the fifth Chapter of S. John, it may
well be concluded (according also as saith the Apostle to the Hebrues) that his
speaking and writing was to beare record of the thins that were to be spoken
afterward, namely by the Son of God and his Apostles, as we reade them written
in te new Testament. Now among the books of Moses, al such as can skil of the
wil easily grant, that as Deutoeronomie is the last, so it teacheth whereto the
other books tend, shewing the meane how to fare the better by them, yea and
conteining as it were the summe of them. Therefore it is very likely, that that
was the cause which moved our wilbeloved brother or rather good father Master
John Calvin, that most faithful minister of the Gospell of Jesus Christ, to
preach and expound the same in the Church, because that by his setting forth
thereof, he should after a sort comprehend the other nex three also,m so farre
forth as the understanding of them should be needfull for the people, His
sermons therefore were faithfully gathered in order, like as his sermons were
which he preached upon other books of the scripture, wherof many have beene
printed here already. And in the meane time til all the rest of his sermons may
by Gods helpe be brought to light, ig hagh seemed good that these same should
be put forth first in the meane while: the impression wherof should not neede
any commendation or preface, but that the long continuance of custome requireth
it. For as many as have heard true report of the person and skil of that good
man Master John Calvin, wil be sufficiently drawne to the reading of his
sermons, by finding his name here set unto them: assuring themselves that they
shal not finde any thing in them, but such as agree with Gods Spirite, that is
to say profitable, good and holy things. As touching the principall and
notablest points that are to be found here, there might very well be made a
rehearsal of them, to give the readers some tast of the whole booke of the said
sermons, at their first entry, But forasmuch as it is better that every man
should hie him to the reading of them, and to heare the preacher himself speake
as it were in his owne person, we purpose not to enter into such discourse,which might peradventure be somewhat with the lonest. Onely
we will touch one point, wherof some word hath beene cast forth already
heretofore: that is to wit, that this booke of Moses being well read
and understoode, doth shew suffidiently who they be that holde the true
religion, and resolveth a question wherof men seeme partly to doubt yet at this
day, and partly to determine over boldly after their owne fancie, against the
expresse word of God. We speake not here of Turks, Jewes, Sarasins, and such
other, which are commonly called Miscreants, or Infidels as they be in deede:
but we speake of the nations which have long time borne the renowne of
Christianitie, because that through Gods gracious goodness some signe of holy
baptisme hath continued amongst them, and Jesus Christ is professed ther in
name. We see then that there is great variance nowadays. The one saith, that
Christianitie requireth, that in serving God, men should, or at leastwise may
have images, and set them up in churches for Christian people: the other side
upholdeth on the contrary part, that it is a bilanous defiling of religion, and
an utter forsaking of the true Christianitie, and a taking in of a bastard
religion insteede of it. If men can finde in their hearts to heare Moses speake
in this booke (as they needes must, or else be convicted of renouncing God the
Father and his Sonne our Lord Jesus Christ who is very God and everlasting
life, and of resisting the holie Ghost: ) he sheweth the thing which he
forgetteth not in his other bookes also, namelie that God could never away to
be served after that fashion, but evermore expresselie forbade images in case
of Religion, and threatened his owne people with horrible punishments, if they
held not themselves contented with that single order, to rest therupon without attempting any further. Were there no
more but the onely text of the second commandement, it were ynough and
sufficient. For (as Moses wrote in the twentieth of Exodus, and hath rehearsed
againe at large in the fifth of this present booke,) God saith, Thou shalt not make to the selfe any graven
image. And to the intent that no man should use any wrangling by standing
upon the particular, he addeth, nor the likenesse of anything that is in heaven above, or in the earth
beneath, or in the waters under the earth. Moreover, to shew that he will
not have men to yeelde tem any part of his service, how littlesoever it be: he
addeth, Thou halt not bose downe to them,
nor worship them. Lat of all he addeth a horrible and dreadefull threate, that he will take vengeance upon the
transgressors and their children, to the
third and fourth generation. This
commaundement then is set downe in so expresse termes, that the matter is as
manifest as may be. And therefore the lusty laddes that gave helde the people
in error, perceiving the great gaine which they and their bellies reaped, by
this meane or occasion of mingling Images with religion, have overleapt this
second commaundement, and divided the last commaundement into two, that the
full number of tenne might be found there still. But besides this, Moses
delivereth so often expositions of it even in this selfsame booke, and setteth
forth so lively and precise discourses therof: that if any man will not give place
thereunto in these dayes, this proverbe may well be verified of him, that none
is so deafe as e that will not heare: and that he is overpreached unto, which
hath no care to doe well. For as touching the arguments which some have
alledged for that purpose in these latter yeres, although they have beene
oftenties chafed and rechafed, yet are the so starke and stiffe for colde, that
they have no force no mjight to glue any holinesse to Images in the Temples of
the Christians, as hath beene well shewed to the forementioned gainsayers in
due time and place, and shall still hereafter whensoever they list to give
care. And as for us, we have on the one side, to continue in praying unto God,
that he vouchsafe to touch the heartes of the people and of their leaders and
governours, effectually by his holy Spirite, so as they may well understande
this point, which would be a goodmeane to appease Gods wrath, and to open a
great gappe to the reformation that might influe from better to better. And on
the other side it standeth us on hand to strengthen our selves in the
infallible certaintie of the holy Christian religion and true Apostolike faith,
which we holde with the other holy Churches that are reformed. And as
concerning this point, no doubt but it is an invincible fortresse unto us, that
we are able to shewe forth this thing from age to age: namely first of all that
the true Apostolike and Primative Church had no Images at all in their holy
meetings, whether is were in Tenples or elsewhere, ne willed the people to
kneele downe to them, or to set them up before them. That likewise aforetimes
when the church was foverned by the Jewes, both after their returne from
Babylon, and even in the captivitie it selfe, the good and gaithfull sort did
warily keepe themselves from it: that if yee mount up yet higher, the true
Prophetes were commended for crying out against Images and the manner of
worshipping of Images, and the holy Kinges were well liked of God for pulling
downe, razing our, and rooting up the occasions of such superstitions among
their people: that the good Judges and governours had done likewise before the
kings: and that even Moses himselfe (who was auncienter than any others that
have left any bookes of long time) spake of them after the same manner, and
dealt accordingly thereto,, because he had both the administration of the
doctrine and the government of the common weale together, which was not
ordinarie agterwarde in others. Yee see then, yee see howe the true Catholike
Church is on their side which follow the Gospell, whatsoever men list to say to
the contrarie. And nowe that we be delivered from outwarde Idolatrie, it
standeth us on hande to looke neerely to our selves, that our life bee
agreeable to the purenesse of Gods service, so as wee shunne Covetousnesse (
whiche also is named Idolatrie ) ambition, excesse and vanitie of the worlde,
taking good heede ( as much as is possible for us to doe ) that no man bee
withdrawne from the Gospell and the love thereof through our undiscreete
dealing: to the ende ig may appeare that whereas the disobedient doe seeke
sxcuses and take occasion of stumbling, they doe it without any cause given on
our behalfe. Furthermore the strange blindnesse or rather wilfull stubbornnesse
which is to be seene nowadays in a number of them that cal themselves
Christians, ought to make us so much the earnester in praying, to the end
aforesaid, that is to wit, that our good God may vouchsafe to worke so
effectually in the hearts of all men, as well great as small, Kings, Princes,
and other governors, as their subjects as the wretched world may not always
continue at the A,B,C of Christianitie, without learning any further. We teme
the second commandement an A,B,C, because it is and
ever hath been one of the first and surest groundes of the true religion, and
is ( as ye would say ) a necessary appurtenance to the first commandement. For whosoever migleth the worshipping of
Images with the serving of God, doth as much as in him lyeth, to set forth
other gods than the true God. And it is a marvelous thing, that the world
becommeth never the wiser for all the great number of punishments which God
hath powred out, and stil powreth out to warne us to come to repentance. For within these fiftie yeres, since which time God of his sufficient
smiting of the people of the earth with his roddes in former yeres, he hath
also made them feele his c\scourges diver wayes, in punishing their contempt of
his holy doctrine. Yet notwithstanding we hope that God ( Conditionally
that we continue in prayer ) wil one day shew by more aboundant effect, that he
hath heard the prayers of his sillie faithfull ones, even in this behalfe, and
draw the rest of his churches out of the miserable desolation, which hath
lasted now too long by reason of our sinnes. And hereof we have good hansel in
the furtherance that he hath given already to the gospel, notwithstanding that
Satan hath spit out his spite against it on all sides. For albeit that the holy
doctrine doe founde in the eares of the
poore people in divers places, the sacraments of Baptisme and of the Lords
Supper be ministred purely, the praises of God do rint shirlely to mens
understanding in the psalms and songs, and the father is worshipped in the name
of Jesus Christ our hope and the onely advocate of wretched sinners: yet are
there a number which hope, or at leastwise wish, that as the sunne hath been
eclipsed this yere, so there might be an everlasting eclips of the preaching of
the gospel but by the helpe of God and of our great daysunne Jesus Christ, they
shalbe deceaved. And in the meane time while Gods kingdome may inlarge it selfe
stil further out here below, we pray al such as are desirous to have the
understanding ond use of the doctrine of this godlie booke of Moses, to take
the paine to reade these present Sermons of the faithfull servaunt of God
Master John Calvin: of whom like as the speeche and pen served the Church as
long as he lived, ( whatsoever some Balaams bable to the conttrarie: ) so we
believe that his writings wil by Gods help edifie al men continuallie
hereafter. Moreover it were a needles thing to warne men, and to pray them to
take heede that they make not the Printer to lose the fruite of his labour, and
his cost which he was gaine to be at in the printing of this present worke, were
it not for the greedie and unsatiable covetousnesse that reigneth nowadays in
men of that trade, by reason whereof diverse times the overrun one another
without any honestie or conscience. Surelie we had forborne to give this
warning, and had lever to have let the Printers alone to deale with their
owne-peculiar cases as they listed among themselves, if it were not for one
reason which inforceth us to fall purposelie into that matter: which is, that
in some places they not onelie print againe in such hast the bookes of that
excellent teacher Master John Calvin that were erst printed here, as it is
pitifull to see the workemanship of the imprinting so ill corrected: but also
moreover, some have gone so farre, as to print in Master Calvins name the unperfect
copies which they have gotten by peecemeale or stealth where they could come by
them. We knowe not what they meane by it: but surelie they doe wrong both to
the author, and to the
Your humble brethren, the Ministers of Gods word.
The Deacons and
disposers of the goods that are given in almes to
the poore strangers that are come
hither into the citie of
words sake: to all faithfull and true
Christians, helth and peace from our Lord Jesus.
orasmuch as our good and faithfull shepherds the
ministers of this church, peradventure fearing to be overlong or tedious to
their readers, do in the end of their preface made to these sermons, but ( as
it were glauncinglie ) touch one point, which notwithstanding is of great
importance for the poore straungers that are come into this towne: to our
seeming it would be thought neither amisse nor strange, if we for our dueties
sake, declared the thing somewhat more at large, which they spake in one word,
concerning the printing of the sermons of our late good father M. John Calvin.
Nowe then, for the better understanding of the whole, you must consider that
from the yere of our Lord 1549 forth on, the late M. Dennis Ragueneawe being fled
hither, gave himselfe to the gathering of the Sermons word for word, which M.
John Calvin did ordinarily make: and that with such sweftnes and cunning,
through the use of certain notes and shapes, as few words escaped him even from
the beginning. Which thing when they saw which had the charge wherewith to
releeve the present needs: yet failed they not to take such order, that the
said writer was intertained after a sort with some part of the same money, to
the intent he might have wherewith to maintaine himselfe and his small familie,
while he gave himselfe wholly to the gathering of these sermons, and to the
ingrosing of them faire againe afterward,, because he shoulde spare no time to
any other businesse than that. He undertooke the charge, with condition that he
should copie out all the Sermons faire, into bookes of a certain scantling or
syse whereby they should be made, which he should deliver to one of the Deacons
to be faithfully kept, as a peculiar benefite belonging to the poore
straungers, at whose charges the saide writer was intertained. And forasmuch as
afterward the number of the faithfull increased dailie in the realme of France,
and many that could not heare the lively voice of this good servant of God in
the pulpit, were desirous at leastwise to see the things in writing, which he
preached openly, and praied to be made partakers of them: in that onelie
respect and none other, the writer had leave given him to deliver copies of
whatsoever sermons sere demaunded of him, to the end that such as received them
at his hand, might profite themselves by the doctrine of them, howbeit upon
condition that the same should not afterward in any wise prejudice or hinder
the poore, for whom the originall copies were carefully preserved ( as hath
beene said ), that they might be printed to the common benefite of them all,
whensoever it should please God to give them abilitie, as was done afterward.
By reason hereof some which had gotten out copies that came to whole books,
taking opportunity of the liberty which our Lord of his infinite goodnesse and
mnercie gave to the realme of Fraunce, sticker not to cause some of them to be
printed, not onely to the great himderance of the poore, who by the meanes were
bereft of the thing that belonged unto them: but also to the disadvantage of
all the faithfull, inasmuch as those copies were never overlooked conferred
with the originals, which are kept diligently here: which is such a deede as we
know not how to name in one word, and therefore do willingly leave the judgement
therof to such as see whereto it tendeth, and what sequele may insue of it. For
if everie man may have libertie to print at his pleasure, al the sermons which
he can pretend to have bin so gathered, whereas notwithstanding they have not
bin conferred with the originall copies which we have here: who shall let them
to falsifie the most part of the true sermons by adding or diminishing, and by
angling or nipping of them after their owne fancie? It is well knowen that the
abusing of the names of Gods good and faithfull servants,
is no new thing. If such libertie be given and men deale as they have begun, in
this case: what wil come of it,, but that the doctrine of salvation shall stand
as it were at the courtesie of such as will make their owne devices flie through
the whole world, under pretence of setting the name of this good man to the
titles of them? For sufficient proofe whereof, and to the end it should not be
thought that we do wrongfully and without cause give inkling of the things
aforesaid: we will briefly touch what hath bin done herein a fewe yeares since:
namely that there have bin certaine men, sho without any forecast, have bin so
bolde as to cause certain sermons upon the Prophet Danyel to be printed,
without vouchsafing to see the originall copie, or to be advertised thereof
from hence. And to cover their whole doings the better, they
alledge that their so doing was for the glorie of God. Yea marie: but that should have beene done without the
hinderance of other men. And it is a monder to see how such folke dare boast themselves to be of the reformed religion. For to thinke
that Papists are the doers therof, there is no likelihood at all, considering
the hatred that they beare to that good man. Therefore it is not to be doubted,
but that they be of that sort which crowd themselves
into the number of the faithfull, and of the reformed Churches, and will needs
semme to be great Christians. But let all men judge whether it be a dealing
meete for them that feare God, so to filch away the things that belong to the
poore members of our Lord Jesus Christ. And this thing bringeth us to the
rememberance of another deede, whereof we be constrained to make our mone
likewise to the whole world, to the end that such as wittingly withhold the
goods of our poore folke, may advise themselves better than they have done
higherto, and make amends as they ought to do. The matter concerneth them that
print or daylie cause to be printed, or which have heretofore printed the
Psalmes made into meter by M. Beza. There is none of them all but he knoweth
right wel, that he cannot with good conscience, ne
ought also to print them, without paying to our poore folke the thing that was
promised and agreed upon before they were ever once put in print, as all of
them can wellynough tell. Yet
notwithstanding the most part, and in maner all that have had to do with that
matter, would never yet pay aught of that which they ought to have done, for
any thing that could be tolde them of it. But let them vaunt themselves to be
good and faithfull Christians as much as the list: they shall not easily make
men believe that they have so much conscience as the Papists had in that
behalfe. For how ignorant so ever the Papistes were, yet would
they neither take away nor withholde the things which they knew to
belong to the poore. And therefore it is a great shame, that thy which professe
the Gospell, which resort to the Christian congregations, which receive the
holie Supper of our Lord Jesus, and ( to be short ) which will needs be
mustered in the array of the faithfull, do no better bethinke themselves of the
discharging of their dueties. Surely we marvell how
they dare prease to the open Sermons, where they be so often condemned, at
leastwise in generalitie. But it is seene by experience, that they be no whit
moved with them, but die fall asleepe, insomuch that they thinke not that the
great number of threatnings which are uttered against all such as behave not
themselves trustilie towards their neighbours and against such as withhold
other mens goods, specially the goods that are appointed to the poore, do
concerne themselves. Yet notwithstanding, howsoever any of them both doe take
the matter, they shall one day be faine to feele to their cost, that whatsoever
is done to the poore members of the sonne of God, he taketh it to be done to
his owne selfe, so great store doth he set by then. Wherefore it were nowe high
time that all such folke shoulde looke more neerely to themselves and to their
duetie, and not suffer themselves to be so carried away by their unruly gancies
and affections, which hinder them to make any conscience in withholding the
poore folks goods, and in turning them to their owne private use. As touching
some other sort of Printers, which sticke not to print againe immediatlie the copies
that others have printed at their great charges afore, and by that meanes doe
bring to passe, that many good men dare not adventure to print (among other
things), a great number of the same authors sermons which are here, and belong
to our poore folks: the warning that is given therof in the preface of the said
ministers, (notwithstanding that it be verie short) ought well to restraine
them, and to make it seeme to the world, that there is a leastwise as much
modestie and honestie in them, as there appeareth to be in the wretched Papists
that deale with the Art of printing. For they would be ashamed to have it cast
in their teeth, that they had incroched one upon another. Thus much have we
thought good to adde in this behalfe, assuring our selves that none of the
faithfull and of such as feare God will thinke amisse of this warning, which we
have bin driven to make in discharge of our duetie, which ought alone to be a
sufficient excuse for us if any man should think that the things which we have
uttered are not material. But we hope that al men of good discretion and sound
understanding, will judge that we neither could nor should have let slip so
good an occasion as this, to warne such as print or cause things to be printed,
to do their dueties toward the poore. At
The Same Deacons.
t falleth out well to the purpose,
that when the former warning was ended, there remained a voide roome to put in
this addition, which shall serve for a confirmation of the things that were
spoken concerning the former maner of dealing, used in the printing of the
Sermons upon Danyel. For immediately upon the getting of a copie printed at
Rochell by Bartilmew Berton, in the yeare of our Lord 1565, he that nameth
hiselfe the forst author of the putting of them abroade, gave forth that they
had bin kept as it were in prison by the space of twelve years or thereabouts,
and that the Author of them had suppressed them and held them fast locked up,
with such other like sayings devised of hi owne braine. But therein he sheweth sufficientlie by what
meanes he came by those copies, which were never kept backe from any that were
desirous to have them, so it were but to reade them, albeit that they were kept
from such as would copie them out to defraud our poore folke of the benefite
that was lawfully gotten for them. And whereas he reporteth that the copie
which he caused to be imprinted, fell into the hands of a friend of his: he
shoulde at leastwise have inquired how that came to passé, and by what title
his friend made it his owne, so as he durst cause it to be printed. But it is
apparent how great his fault was against the poore folk: and what pretence so
ever he make, no man can doubt what zeale or affection drave
him to do that thing. By the way, God grant that the Readers be not
disappointed of the profit which they should reape of those sermons, and that
they be put forth according as they were gathered, whereof we neither can nor
wil judge, untill we have read them throughly, and conferred them with the
originall copies which we have here, which thing we will by Gods helpe doe ere
it be long, that we may faithfully warne the readers thereof, against the next
imprinting of them againe.