A17698:2280
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.
He may cry alas, what shall become of me? I have not a bit of bread to eat, I have no lodging, I wot not where to become. This sending away of their servants naked, was an indirect means to hold them in bond dage still. For this cause our Lord saith, when ye have bin served by the space of six years by those that are your brethren, give them somewhat in recō pence of their service, according to your ability.
He may cry alas, what shal become of me? I haue not a bit of bread to eat, I haue no lodging, I wote not where to become. This sending away of their seruants naked, was an indirect means to hold thē in bō dage still. For this cause our Lord sayth, whē ye haue bin serued by ye space of six yeeres by those yt are your brethrē, giue thē somewhat in recō pēce of their seruice, according to your abilitie.
Again, to the end that men should be the willinger to such liberality, Look into your stables (saith he,) & into storehouses, & into your garners. Because men are always repining; here God falleth to making of an Inventory. O (says one) I have not so much to give: & what wot I whether I my self shall want or no? Our Lord therefore maketh an Inventory to discuss the matter, saying, What? Cannot he which hath Corn in his garner give to him that hath served him, whose blood he hath drawn in making him to labour for him? Ought he not at leastwise to have an eye to the corn that is in his garner? He hath husbanded his ground, he hath tilled it, he hath toiled himself about it: & is it not reason that he should feel some sweetness & fruit of it? Besides this, he goeth to his winepress & to his stalls: as if he should say, let every man see what he hath; for according to your ability you be bound to recompense them that have travelled for you, & have bin the instruments of such blessings. For if we thank God with our mouths, confessing that it is he which hath blessed us, & in the mean while make none account of such as he hath sent to do us service in the increase of our living, by taking pains and toil for us: all our thanking of him is but lip labour & utter hypocrisy. Thus ye see in effect what we have to mark upon this text.