A17698:2271
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.
It should seem at the first blush, that this agreeth not with that which we have seen already, namely that there should be no poor beggars in the land. But the solution is very easy, because it may well fall §10out that there should be poor folks, & yet that all begging be taken away. And soothly it must needs be a great shame for a people that profess God, that there should be beggars among them, because it is even against common order & honesty. Although we had not the commandment of our God; yet let us consider according to nature what may insew of suffering beggars to be. First it is a token that the richer sort do devour all, & that they have no regard of succouring such as §20be in need & penury. Again, when the bridle is laid loose; we see it followeth that the moe do give themselves to roguing. For men know not to whom they give; insomuch that when those kind of people go crying up & down the streets from gate to gate; it cannot be discerned whether they have need or no: and importunatest creatures do commonly bear away that wherewith the poor should be fed and maintained. Moreover the rewarding of such as go about §30begging after that fashion, is a maintenance of false harlots. For there is none so great deceit to be found, as is in these Rogues that go begging about. And he that is once nuzzled in roguing, becometh a thief in the end. Finally although there were none other inconvenience; yet we see that those which are once inured so with begging, can never fall to any labour afterward, nor learn to do any good, but are idle bodies and loiterers ever after. Thus ye see how begging is §40even by the order of nature to be always condemn ned. For it bringeth nothing with it but sin and corruption, and all things must at length needs come to confusion, where begging is suffered & borne with. But we have Gods commandment which is a far higher thing, which saith that we must not have any beggars among us, but that the inconvenience thereof ought to be prevented aforehand, by relieving such as want, accordingly as men can discern of them, & be of ability to succour §50them. Ye see then that these two places are not contrary one to another. For whereas he saith that there shall always be poor folks;