A17698:2255
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.
If a man come to borrow money of me, and I think thus with my self, I cannot tell whether this man be able to pay me again or no, he is a poor man, and when I have §40tarried a long time, he may chance to grow poorer and poorer, and then is my money lost. Now then if this poor man that was to be succoured abide still in distress, and in the end perish: the other that would not lend him, shall not be accused for it nor brought to answer for it before men. And if men cast him in the teeth with it. O (will he say) It was for me to seek mine own profit, I listed not to hazard my self after that fashion. Well this excuse §50may serve afore men: but in the mean while what saith the heavenly Judge to it? It is a wicked thought, sayeth he: and let men flatter themselves never so much, they shall win nothing by it. Therefore let us mark that we must not weigh our works in our own scales, as who should say we shall go scot-free because we have some starting hole. For our Lord telleth us that the thing which bears a show to be excusable §60of it self, is cursed in his sight; that is to wit if we succour not the party that hath need, at leastwise according to our ability. And it is the selfsame thing that our Lord Jesus Christ putteth us in mind of, where he sayeth that we must do good to such as are not able to requite us with the like,1 and that we must lend without looking for any gain. For neither in lending nor in giving, commonly is there any liberality among men, but every man hath an eye to his own gain. If a man give, it is to the end to receive gifts again: and if a man lend, always his respect is, that such a one may do him pleasure and recompense him with the like good turn again. It is no Liberality when we do good in hope to be recompensed for it again. But if we do good to a poor man, at whose hand we cannot by any means reap any profit; that is a point of free goodness, and God alloweth of it, for it is an acceptable sacrifice unto him. And that is the cause why he sayeth that we should not give to such as are able to requite us, but to such as are utterly unable, and of whom we have no hope to recover the principal: for it is no Almsdeed, that is to say, no deed of mercy, unless there be need: and where is need, but among such as are not able to recompense?