A17698:2268
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 by the way let us come to that which I spake of, namely that Gods commanding of wealthy folk to have their hands open to succour the poor and needy that are in the land, is not without cause. For it is as it were a setting down before our eyes, wherein and after what §60manner he will be ferued at our hands: namely in doing him homage with the goods which he hath bestowed abundantly upon us: Yea verily, for he sendeth us poor folks to be as his receivers. And although the almsdeed be done to mortal creatures; yet doth God well accept and well like thereof, & putteth it into his accounts, as though the things which we bestow upon the poor were delivered into his own hands. Trueth it is that as in respect of God the deed that we do is no almsdeed, but an homage of the goods that he hath given us, & for the which we be beholden to him. Yet nevertheless there is this moreover, y• besides his accepting of the acknowledgement which we yield unto him for the good that he doth us, it is all one as if the mercy which we show to our brethren, extended it self unto him. And that is the cause why it is said, that he which shutteth his ears at the crying of the poor,1 shall cry himself unto GOD and not be heard. On the contrary part, if we be pitiful, and be moved to pity the poor when we hear of their wants; God also will use pity & compassion towards us to succour us again at our need. And in the same respect Moses saith expressly in this text, that God commandeth us to have our hands open to the poor that dwell in the land among us. For God offereth them to us, to the intent we should have no excuse to say, I wist not to whom I should do good. Seeing then that our Lord ministereth the means unto us, we must not seek for starting holes: for we shall be still guilty, because we have not used the occasion that was offered us. Our Lord Jesus Christ goeth yet further and saith, that he himself will not be always with us,2 but that the poor shall ever be with us. For in commending the deed that was done to his honour, because the precious ointment seemed superfluous, when his head was anointed therewith, he said, let it be so for this once: but from thenceforth he sendeth his disciples to the poor. And why?