A17698:999
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 there is another point, which is that we must not covet to be rich.1 For as soon as the desire of gaining is settled in us: it is certain that we shall become thieves, and it cannot be otherwise. This will seem strange at the first blush: but when every of us shall have gathered home his wits to himself, [we shall find] (as the heathen themselves could well skill to say) that even nature teacheth us, it is unpossible for us to covet to be rich, but §40we shall be inflamed to rake to our selves by hook or by crook. Will we then shun theft? We must lay aside covetousness, that is to say the desirousness of enriching our selves. To the intent this word be not cavilled at: how shall we do it? Let us learn to be contented with our state. For as for him that hath no certain stay, but is always tossed and turmoiled with coveting: his affections harry him to and fro, so as he can never have any rest, to §50say, Here must I hold my self within my bounds, I say that the state which GOD hath given to every man, must be as a bound to hedge him in, as though it were said to him: Behold, thy God will have thee to stay upon that which he giveth thee, content thy self therewith: if thou do not, thou not only troublest the whole order of the world, but also defyest thy GOD, as though thou meantest to bid him battle.
Againe there is another poynt, which is that wee must not couet to bee rich.1 For as soone as the desire of gayning is setled in vs: it is certeine that wee shall become theeues, and it cannot bee otherwise. This will seeme strange at the first blush: but when euerie of vs shal haue gathered home his wittes to himselfe, [we shall finde] (as the heathen themselues coulde well skill to say) that euen nature teacheth vs, it is vnpossible for vs to couet to bee riche, but §40wee shall bee inflamed to rake to our selues by hooke or by crooke. Will wee then shunne theft? Wee must lay aside couetousnesse, that is to say the desirousnesse of inriching our selues. To the intent this worde be not cauilled at: how shall wee doe it? Let vs learne to bee contented with our state. For as for him that hath no certaine stay, but is alwayes tossed and turmoyled with coueting: his affections harrye him to and fro, so as hee can neuer haue any rest, to