A17698:2524
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.
Now it is said afterward, That the kings shall not hoard up much gold and silver. True it is that covetousness is forbidden to all men as the root of all mischief,1 where with when a mans heart is once possessed, he must needs be snarled §10in all the snares of Satan: Insomuch that if a man be given to covetousness, he becometh cruel, using all manner of outrage; violence, & cruelty. Again he falleth to pilling and polling, & maketh no conscience to devour other mens substances. Afterward he falleth to perjury, cousinage, untrustiness, treachery, poisoning, and whatsoever evil he can besides. And when malice is once set on fire, he proceedeth even to open murder. To be short, if a man suffer himself §20to be won to covetousness, he must needs become a very bondslave to Satan. Why then doeth he forbid here only kings to gather much gold or silver? Surely our Lord giveth not private persons leave to enrich themselves, when he forbiddeth kings to do it: But rather the clean contrary For if such as have a better mean then we, ought to be cleansed from that vice: what ought we to be? For if any men should have liberty to gather gold and silver, kings §30ought to have it most. But God hath forbidden it them: and therefore let all other men look to themselves. But Moses speaketh expressly here of kings, as of those that have most need of remedy, because they have greater occasions of gathering than any other men. For when a king reigneth in a Country that is rich and plentiful, it is a temptation unto him: insomuch that when he sees his subjects live at their ease, he thinketh thus with himself, it will never §40grieve them to give me such an impost, & when he hath raised one tax or tallage, there is never any end or measure of his gathering afterward. And so ye see how kings have need of the said restraint, by reason of the said temptation which is of more force towards them than towards other men.
Nowe it is saide afterwarde, That the kings shal not hoord vp much gold and siluer. True it is that couetousnesse is forbidden to all men as the roote of all mischiefe,1