A17698:2272
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 is to the end (as I have said afore) that the rich should have occasion to offer such sacrifice to God as he requireth, by succouring the needy with such things as they have in their hands, and by doing it with discretion, by searching out as much as is possible who they be that have need. But that men should give without discretion, or that it should §60be lawful for men to go begging up and down the streets, or to stand begging at the gates or at mens doors: it is a shameful thing & against all good order, and bringeth nothing but confusion, as a nourishment of evil in all those to whom such liberty is given, as I have showed already.
it is to the end (as I haue sayd afore) that ye rich should haue occasiō to offer such sacrifice to God as he requireth, by succouring the needy with such things as they haue in their handes, and by doing it with discretion, by searching out as much as is possible who they bee that haue neede. But that men should giue without discretion, or that it should §60be lawfull for men to goe begging vp and downe the streetes, or to stand begging at the gates or at mens doores: it is a shamefull thing & against all good order, and bringeth nothing but confusion, as a nourishmēt of euil in all those to whom such libertie is giuen, as I haue shewed already.
Now remaineth to put this doctrine in practise. First of all we must understand, that according to the greatness of mens necessities, God stirreth us up ever to do them the more good, & it is then chief time to strain our selves, when there is any famine or dearth. For then men ought rather to cut their own morsels short, than to suffer others to want, themselves living so in excess. And whereas many men take occasion to pinch when they see a deer year, bearing themselves in hand that it serveth their turn well to make their hand the better: Let us understand that our Lord doth then cite us, and declare unto us that if ever we be minded to do him homage with the goods that he hath put into our hands, he will have us to utter it at that time. Let that serve for one point. And whereas we see many poor folk in necessity; let us assure our selves that our Lord warneth us that it is as a waking of us from sleep; and that because we have not bin sufficiently mindful of our duty, our Lord cometh to put us in remembrance of that which he had commanded us: and that if we be not too lazy, we must needs enforce our selves, to consider every of us the measure that is given him & the ability of his power, & thereafter employ himself. This is the thing that we have to mark in the first place.