A17698:3180
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.
We see then how in this law the poor & the rich are taught their lesson. For as for the poor, although they see that one hath great abundance of corn, that an other hath great plenty of wine: yet ought they not withstanding to bear their penury patiently, and not to run and scratch for other mens goods, as if they were left at six and seven. Yea and that §60when men give them such access, they must not repine at him which is wealthy, to pilfer any thing secretly from him. As if a man being hired to sow a ground, have a sack of corn delivered unto him, and he steal a bagful of it: verily he committeth a double theft. It had been better he had cut a purse of filched away some other thing, than so to have deceived one which put him in trust. Again, if the threshers likewise, when a man openeth his barn unto them, convey away an other part: If a servant which is of some house, steal a thing which he found cast aside in a corner: these filchings are as bad almost as open robberies. For thefts which are committed by such as are household servants, deserve much greater punishment, than those which are committed by strangers. And why? For when a man trusteth one so far as to bring him into his house, into his field, or into any other place where his goods are; he ought to show himself twice or thrice as trusty and faithful as he would do otherwise. And if a man do the contrary, he offendeth grievously both in the sight of GOD and of men. So then let us note, that the poor ought so to behold other mens wealth so, that they be not provoked with any covetous desire to pilfer away, or to steal any thing. For why? Seeing God hath bestowed on them no abundance of wealth, they ought to content themselves with that little which they have, and to know that it is God which hath pointed out to every one his portion in this world, and that he hath not without cause ordained that every man should possess that which he hath gotten, or that which is come unto him by inheritance, or that which hath been given him: in respect whereof his will is that there be a certain order, so as none be deceived of their right. Ye see then how the poor are taught, That they must not be enticed to do that which is evil, although they stand in need of the goods of this world.
We see then howe in this lawe the poore & the rich are taught their lesson. For as for the poore, although they see that one hath great aboundance of corne, that an other hath great plentie of wine: yet ought they not withstanding to beare their penurie patiently, and not to runne and scratch for other mens goods, as if they were left at sixe and seuen. Yea and that