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…

Hereupon Saint Paul comes back again too certain particular and special exhortations, as he had begun too do before, and first he saith, that the faithful ought too keep themselves well from being drunken with wine, wherein there is disorder. As if he should say, that we must have such stay of our selves in our eating and drinking, and so use the good things that God hath ordained for our sustenance, as too take measurable repast of them, and not make our selves like brute beasts. Now, that we may profit our selves well by this doctrine, we have too mark first of all, too what end our Lord hath appointed food and all other things that are for our sustenance. What then is the lawful use of wine, of water, of bread, and of all other victuals? Verily too feed our selves with them, according too the need of our infirmity, and too sustain ⟨image 286⟩us so in life, as […] do homage too him of whom we hold our life, and by whom it is maintained, yielding him thanks for his fatherly liberality: and secondly keep our selves occupied every man according too his degree, and according too the ability that is given him. Thus ye see that the lawful us• of mea•e and drink, is too sustain us: not that we might be as blocks of timber, but that every of us might occupy himself in […] the things that God hath ordained, too the behoof of his neighbour, and too the earning of his own living honestly: and specially above all things, acknowledge the benefits that God of his infinite goodness bestoweth upon us, that he may be glorified in all things, as it is said in another place. Now then we see that meat and drink ought too serve too lead us to God.¹ For is it reason that when God shall have reached out his hand too pour upon us the benefits that we receive of him, he should notwithstanding go unknown, and we still cram our selves here at his cost, and yet forget him? Were not that too lewd and detestable a beastliness? Therefore although meat and drink be helps too our feebleness, yet ought we too refer all unto God. In deed it seemeth at the first sight, that we be letted and hindered too do good, as well by eating and drinking, as also by sleeping. It is very true: and thereby God showeth what we be.

Heereuppon Saint Paule comes backe agein too certeine particular and speciall exhortations, as he had begonne too doo before, and first he sayth, that the faythfull ought too keepe themselues vvell from beeing drunken vvith vvyne, vvherein there is disorder. As if he should say, that wee must haue such stay of our selues in our eating and drinking, and so vse the good thinges that God hath ordeyned for our sustenance, as too take measurable repast of them, and not make our selues lyke brute beastes. Now, that wee may profit our selues well by this doctrine, wee haue too marke first of all, too what end our Lord hath appoynted foode and all other things that are for our sustenance. What then is the lawfull vse of wyne, of water, of bread, and of all other vittelles? Uerily too feede our selues with them, according too the neede of our infirmitie, and too susteyne