A17698:2252
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 now for the second part, let us mark how our Lords intent here, is to show us that almsdeeds please him not, unless they come from a willing and free disposed heart.1 And therefore let us learn to order our succouring of our neighbours needs in such sort, as we do it not repiningly and unwillingly, so as when our hand is stretched out, there be a wicked affection in us which may hinder us from offering up unto God §60that succour which we owe unto our neighbours when we see them in necessity. And would God that this lesson were well put in ure, and that every one of us did bear it better in mind than we do. For although we do some Almsdeeds, yet may the world see that our harts are straitened, and that we cannot come to this doctrine of Saint Pauls, that God loveth the liberal giver, and that he will not have men go to work as it were, by constraint and enforcement, but of a free goodwill. Howe many be there that put this lesson in ure? Nay, the giver hath always some heart grudging in himself, and would fain draw his head out of the collar if he could, and his doing of it is as if he were put to his task as they term it, or as though he payed some tribute. But our Lord calleth Almsdeeds Sacrifices, to the end we should do them cheerfully. And I pray you,2 if we will offer any thing unto God, should it be as the paying of a tribute, or of some tallage or impost, that is extorted? Should it be as it were a ransom given to thieves or enemies? Should our honouring of our God by doing him homage for the goods that we have received at his hand, be by such force and constraint? Now we see in effect▪ what is imported in these two speeches; namely that we must not have our hearts locked up to hinder us from well doing; but that not only our hands but also our hearts must be open towards such as are distressed, to have pity upon them, and to use kindness to them. Where this is not, there must needs be all manner of cruelty, as we commonly see that such as have most to spare, do fall to repining if a body go about to wring an alms from them and they make a grudging at it like a dog when one would take away a bone out of his mouth. And if they hap to give any thing, be it for shame or for any other cause, it is a death to them to part from it.