A17698:2281
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.
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.
Again, to ye end yt men should be ye willinger to such liberalitie, Look into your stables (saith he,) & into storehouses, & into your garners. Because men are alwayes repining; here God falleth to making of an Inuentorie. O (sayes one) I haue not so much to giue: & what wote I whether I my selfe shall want or no? Our Lorde therefore maketh an Inuentorie to discusse ye matter, saying, What? Cannot he which hath Corne in his garner giue to him yt hath serued him, whose bloud he hath drawen in making him to labor for him? Ought he not at leastwise to haue an eye to the corne yt is in his garner? He hath husbanded his ground, he hath tilled it, he hath toyled himselfe about it: & is it not reason yt he should feele some sweetenesse & fruite of it? Besides this, he goeth to his winepresse & to his stalles: as if he shoulde say, let euery man see what hee hath; for according to your abilitie you be bound to recōpence them yt haue trauelled for you, & haue bin ye instrumentes of such blessinges. For if we thanke God wt our mouthes, confessing yt it is he which hath blessed vs, & in ye meane while make none account of such as he hath sent to doe vs seruice in ye increase of our liuing, by taking paynes and toyle for vs: all our thanking of him is but liplabor & vtter hypocrisie. Thus ye see in effect what we haue to marke vppon this text.