A17698:2211
Sermons upon Deuteronomy
The sermons of M. John Calvin upon the fifth book of Moses called Deuteronomy faithfully gathered word for word as he preached them in open pulpit; together with a preface of the ministers of the Church of Geneva, and an admonishment made by the deacons there. Also there are annexed two profitable tables, the one containing the chief matters; the other the places of Scripture herein alleged. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding.The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the fifth booke of Moses called Deuteronomie faithfully gathered word for word as he preached them in open pulpet; together with a preface of the ministers of the Church of Geneua, and an admonishment made by the deacons there. Also there are annexed two profitable tables, the one containing the chiefe matters; the other the places of Scripture herein alledged. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding.
London: printed by Henry Middleton for George Bishop, 1583
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.
True it is that God doth oftentimes multiply the goods of the wicked, & of such as live altogether by extortion, deceit & thievery: we see that such kind of men may well enrich themselves, ⟨p. 571⟩and God beareth with such things to blind their eyes the more with their riches, that they may be as a poison to them, and as a bait to choke them withal. For inasmuch as they imagine that they can enrich themselves whether God will or no: he letteth them do so, yea and he giveth them riches as if he should say, Gather till ye burst: yet shall it not turn to your sustenance, but it shall be as a poison to kill you, as I said afore. For when men enrich themselves §10after that fashion by wicked practises, we see what comes of it in the end. Gods wrath lighteth upon them, and they be tormented all their life long: and when they look to enjoy the goods that they have gathered together, Gods curse doth so utter it self upon them, that they cannot do themselves any good with them: insomuch that although they have their garners & storehouses full fraught, and their bags full of money; yet doth God send them diseases or such §20other afflictions, by which he holdeth them as it were upon the torture or rack; as if he should say: What hast thou done thou wretched creature? Thou hast offended me all the time of thy life, and yet hast thou borne thy self in hand that all should go well with thee if thou mightest heap up riches enow. But thou must now be made to know, that all thy raking up of the riches which thou canst not enjoy, will stand thee in no stead. Thus ye see what reward they §30have which will needs enrich themselves as it were in despite of God: insomuch that all their scrapings to themselves on all hands by unlawful means, are but as cords to snare their children withal, as experience showeth. And therefore let us be throughly persuaded in our selves, that if we will prosper, the only blessing of God must suffice us though we have not all things at will. When we have taken never so much pains, yet must we not trust in the strength of our own §40hands, nor be so blinded with fond presumption as to say, I am an able man, I am politic & can take pains. But let every man refer himself to God, knowing that it is he which giveth him sustenance. And although I take never so much pains to get my living: