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…

Therefore if a man use a trade or occupation which is too no purpose but to breed offences, or too ⟨p. 224⟩be sot men in their delicate delights, and too mar them utterly, or else too set out pomp excessively, as though men purposed even in despite of nature, too make havoc of the good things that God hath given us: it is certain that all those things are without the compass of godly vocations or callings, and that God doth utterly disallow them. Thou mayst well say, I have travelled in this or that: yea but thou hast served the devil. For like as the devil hath his Martyrs, so hath he also his servants. We see how such as are given too superstition, do martyr themselves without end or ceasing, & are (as ye would say) stark mad upon them, and as good as out of their wits. And oftentimes the scripture also useth the same comparisons, too show how the devil casteth men quite out of their bounds, when he once possesseth them. Ye see then that many men torment themselves without reason: yea, but yet are they the devils martyrs. Likewise there are a great number that shall have taken much pain in some trade or occupation, too get their living: & yet if a man look too what purpose it serveth, he shall find it to be nothing but infection & filthiness, & that it serveth but to nourish pride and superfluity. To be short, it is an open provoking of God, and a wasting and misspending of the things that God hath given, with commandment to use them soberly & stayedly. No marvel therefore though S. Paul have set down this distinction. And therefore let every man look diligently to himself, and when fathers are minded too set their children too any trade or occupation, let them not look (as the common custom is) which may be most gainful: but let them match these two things together, namely, when they have considered by what trade their son may best get his living, and provide for himself and his household, when he cometh too be married: (therewith let him also look) that he serve his neighbours turns, and that the use of his craft or mystery may redound too the common profit of all men.

Therfore if a man vse a trade or occupation which is too no purpose but to breede offences, or too ⟨p. 224⟩bee sotte men in their delicate delyghts, and too marre them vtterly, or else too set out pomp excessyuely, as though men purposed euen in despyte of nature, too make hauocke of the good things that God hath giuen vs: it is certeyne that all those thinges are without the compasse of godly vocations or callings, and that God dooth vtterly disallow them. Thou mayst well say, I haue trauelled in this or that: yea but thou hast serued the diuell. For lyke as the diuell hath his Martyrs, so hath he also his seruantes. Wee see how such as are gyuen too superstition, doo martir themselues without end or ceassing, & are (as yee would say) starke mad vpon them, and as good as out of their wits. And oftentimes the scripture also vseth the same comparisons, too shew how the diuell casteth men quite out of their boundes, when he once possesseth them. Yee see then that many men torment themselues without reason: yea, but yit are they the diuels martirs. Lykewise there are a great number that shall haue taken much paine in some trade or occupation, too get their liuing: & yit if a man looke too what purpose it serueth, he shall fynd it to be nothing but infection & filthinesse, & that it serueth but to nurrish pride and superfluitie. To be short, it is an open prouoking of God, and a wasting and misspending of the things that God hath giuē, with commaundement to vse them soberly & stayedly. No maruell therfore though S. Paule haue set downe this distinction. And therfore let euery mā looke diligently to himselfe, and when fathers are mynded too set theyr children too any trade or occupation, let them not looke (as the common custome is) which may bee most gaynefull: but let them match these twoo thinges toogither, namely, when they haue considered by what trade their sonne may best get his liuing, and prouyde for himselfe and his household, when he commeth too bee maryed: (therwith let him also looke) that he serue his neyghbours turnes, and that the vse of his craft or mysterie may redounde too the common profyte of all men.