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 like as a hungry fish will soon be taken, and the food that she raught at, costeth her full deer: so fareth it with these enticements of Satan. When men have no further forecast, but thus, ho, such a man gained well by such a trade, and great profit may be made of it: he steppeth too it at all adventure, and never makes bones at it, too scan or consider whether it be right or wrong: but (as I said afore) is choked or ever he come too that consideration. So much the more therefore doth it stand us on hand too mark well what Saint Paul sayeth here: namely, that when men be desirous too get their living, they must bethink themselves advisedly, and not bear with themselves in doing of things, because they be customably done of others, and no fault found with them among men: but consider that they have too do with God, and that it is he before whom we must make our account.

And lyke as a hungry fishe will soone bee taken, and the foode that she raught at, costeth hir full deere: so fareth it with these intycementes of Satan. When men haue no further forecast, but thus, ho, such a man gayned well by such a trade, and great profit may bee made of it: he steppeth too it at al aduenture, and neuer makes bones at it, too scan or consider whether it bee ryght or wrong: but (as I sayde afore) is choked or euer he come too that consideration. So much the more therefore dooth it stand vs on hand too marke well what Saint Paule sayeth heere: namely, that when men bee desyrous too get their lyuing, they must bethinke themselues aduyzedly, and not beare with themselues in dooyng of things, bycause they be customably doone of others, and no fault found with them among men: but consider that they haue too doo with God, and that it is he before whom wee must make our account.

Again, let us have good eye too the thing that is told us here, that is too say, too the succouring of the needy. For Saint Paul intended too warn us in one word, that our Lord in setting poor folks before us, intendeth too try what we be, namely, whether there be kindness in us, or whether we be cruel like wild beasts, And it is a thing also that ought too move us too compassion. And for the same cause, when the Scripture speaketh of doing alms, besides that it useth the word mercy, it sayeth also, that our bowels ought to be moved when we see our brethren in need. Ye see then that the sight of our neighbours necessities, ought too provoke us too liberality, and too relieve them. Let us not tarry till they cry out for hunger, nor till we be enforced, nor till shame compel us: but let every of us think, hath this man need? Hath God se him before me? Hath he made me too know it? It is enough. For it is even as much as if he summoned me, and sent me his Receivers or Rent gatherers, too take up his revenues. Like as they that have Revenues and Rents, send their men to demand them, and gather them up: so our Lord requireth of us, that we should pay him his tributes, that is too say, the homage money that we owe him, in acknowledgement that the things which we possess, come from him, and even of his mere free gift. He sendeth us neither Sheriffs nor Sergeants, but the poor, and that ought too suffice us, for they be his true receivers: and that is, too the end we should not be loth to give them. The cause why their necessity is set before our eyes, is too the end we