The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

And he proceedeth yet one degree further in this change, which he enjoineth unto all the faithful: which is, that he telleth them they must not only abstain from defrauding of other men, and from polling them of their goods: but also endeavour too succour such as have need. Although then that it seem over rough unto us too abstain from all evil, and that in stead of living at our ease, as we have bin wont to do, and of having many commodities,) we should be fain to scratch our living out of the earth with our nails (as they say) and too labour with great pain and travel, yea and too fare very hardly: if although (say I) that this seem right hard: yet must we go further, that when we have wherewith to get our living without using of wicked practices, we must now and then spare somewhat of that which God giveth us through his blessing, too relieve the needy withal. Therefore let us not look whereto we be inclined, but let us consider that of our own nature we be so froward and wedded too our own profit, that every of us will needs be always well stored, and that forasmuch as we have so little regard of them that are members of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ aswell as our selves, we must take pains to enforce our selves to do them good: for that is a labour that will bring us too another. We must (say I) enforce all our affections, and thereupon employ our selves earnestly and unfeignedly, that we may be able too protest that the bread which we eat, cometh too us from Gods hand, and that we be sustained by his goodness, as if it were by a father that cantleth out every of his children their pittance. Then let us be at that point. And moreover, let us not think it enough too abstain from all craftiness, and from winding in of men by our ⟨image 242⟩fetches, and from catching of other mens goods: but let us labour too do good with the little which we have, and too succour such as have need.

And he proceedeth yit one degree further in this chaunge, which he inioyneth vnto all the faythful: which is, that he telleth them they must not only absteyne from defrauding of other men, and from polling them of their goodes: but also indeuer too succour such as haue neede. Although then that it seeme ouer rough vnto vs too absteyne from all euill, and that in sted of liuing at our ease, as we haue bin woont to do, and of hauing many commodities,) wee should bee fayne to scratch our liuing out of the earth with our nayles (as they say) and too labour with greate peyne and trauell, yea and too fare verye hardly: if although (say I) that this seeme ryght hard: yit must wee go further, that whē we haue wherwith to get our liuing without vsing of wicked practizes, wee must now and then spare somewhat of that which God giueth vs through his blissing, too releeue the needie withall. Therfore let vs not looke whertoo wee bee inclyned, but let vs consider that of our owne nature wee bee so froward and wedded too our owne profit, that euery of vs will needs bee alwayes well stored, and that forasmuch as wee haue so little regard of them that are mēbers of the bodie of our Lord Iesus Christ aswel as our selues, we must take paines to inforce our selues to do them good: for that is a labor that will bring vs too another. Wee must (say I) inforce all our affections, and theruppon imploy our selues earnestly and vnfeynedly, that wee may bee able too protest that the bread which wee eate, commeth too vs from Gods hand, and that wee bee susteyned by his goodnesse, as if it were by a father that cantleth out euerye of his children their pittance. Then let vs bee at that poynt. And moreouer, let vs not think it ynough too absteyne from all craftinesse, and from wynding in of men by our