A17698:2236
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.
And Saint Paul giveth the selfsame admonition, not only to cause us to spare those that are in our debt: but also to induce us to do §50almsdeeds, and to succour the needy: for he sendeth us to him that giveth us seed to sow. Come on sirs, (sayeth he):1 think ye that ye have lost your labour when ye have compassion upon the poor, and bestow alms upon them? No no: no more than the husbandman that layeth his seed into the ground; for he looketh to reap his crop again at Harvest time. Therefore when ye do almsdeeds,2 ye sow: and your §60God avoweth that he receiveth with his own hand, whatsoever ye give to the poor, yea and that he will make it to return every whit of it to your own benefit, so as ye shall reap fruit of it, not only at that great harvest time which shall be at the last day; but also even in this transitory; your God will make you to perceive that your almsdeeds are acceptable to him, and you shall be so much the more increased by them. And for proof thereof (saith he) is it not he that giveth the Corn every year to sow? When the husbandman hath sowed his ground, how could he sow it again the next year, unless God gave it a head again? Consider then that when God giveth you wherewith to do Almsdeeds, it is to the intent to make it fruitful to you. It is all one as if he should give you seed in your hand and say, that if ye intend to gather fruit of it, ye must first cast it into the ground. Will the husbandman keep his corn still in his Garner? Will he leave his Land unsown for fear of bestowing some quantity of grain upon it? Even so when ye see an unsown ground, that is to say a poor neighbour whom God offereth unto you, leave him not unsown still, but be freehearted towards him, and God will not suffer the seed to be lost which ye have bestowed upon him, but will make it to yield ye fruit out of hand. And so ye see whereunto the promise that is set down here tendeth, namely Your God will multiply you in the Land which he hath promised you.
And Saint Paul giueth the selfesame admonition, not onely to cause vs to spare those that are in our dette: but also to induce vs to doe §50almesdeedes, and to succour the needie: for hee sendeth vs to him that giueth vs seede to sowe. Come on sirres, (saieth he):