Sermons of M. John Calvin upon the Epistle of Saint Paul to the GalatiansSermons of M. Iohn Caluine vpon the Epistle of Saincte Paule to the Galathians

And it behoveth us to bear in mind how that in another place he saith,¹ if we have wherewith to feed and cloth our selves, let us be contented. Also we know that God hath a care of all creatures: and therefore much more of his faithful ones. So then let us live soberly, as if we had but a day to live, and let us not make a hoard of the transitory goods of this world. When the ministers of Gods word bear this lesson in mind, namely to live soberly and thriftily, and not too have a care so full of unbelief as should torment them and burn them, and provoke them to heap up unmeasurably: then will they content themselves with a little, and yet notwithstanding men will be bountiful and liberal too them without their craving of it, so as they shall always have wherewith to be fed & clothed. And in good faith, besides this that hath bin said, we see that Saint Paul did not only practise this doctrine himself, but also exhorted his brothers and companions to the same. For in the twentieth of the Acts he allegeth principally, that he had travelled and taken pains with his hands to get part of his living: howbeit that it is much better to give than to take: for (saith he) the thing that we ought to have learned in the school of our Lord Jesus Christ, is that we should be better apaid when we have occasion to do good, and to give to the relief of others: than when we receive to become rich our selves. For it cannot agree with Gods servants, that they should covet to hoard up. To be short, now we see whereat Saint Paul aimed: namely that he meant not to give bridle to the preachers of Gods word, to have a delicate and dainty table, or to be brave to the worldward: but that they should have wherewith to find themselves soberly according to their degree. And therewithal also he blameth the unkindness of the world, for that they which are bound to their Shepherds do show themselves so niggardly, that it seemeth to be as it were a plucking out of the guts out of their bellies, when they be spoken too for the relief of the need of those to whom they be bound beyond measure. Now forasmuch as that vice hath reigned at all times in the world, and the devil (as I said) hath by that policy given […] courage the ministers, that there might be no more teaching and instruction:

And it behoueth vs to beare in minde how that in another place he sayth,¹ if we haue wherewith to feede and cloth our selues, let vs be contented. Also we know that God hath a care of all creatures: and therefore much more of his faythfull ones. So then let vs liue soberly, as if we had but a day to liue, and let vs not make a hoord of the transitorie goodes of this world. VVhen the ministers of Gods worde beare this lesson in minde, namely to liue soberly and thriftily, and not too haue a care so full of vnbeleefe as shoulde torment them and burne them, and prouoke them to heape vp vnmeasurably: then wil they content themselues with a little, and yet notwithstanding men will be bountifull and liberall too them without their crauing of it, so as they shall alwayes haue wherewith to be fed & clothed. And in good fayth, besides this that hath bin sayd, we see that Saint Paule did not onely practize this doctrine himselfe, but also exhorted his brothers and companions to the same. For in the twentith of the Actes he alledgeth principally, that he had trauelled and taken paynes with his handes to get part of his liuing: howbeit that it is much better to giue than to take: for (saythe he) the thing that wee ought to haue learned in the schoole of our Lorde Iesus Christ, is that we shoulde be better apayde when we haue occasion to do good, and to giue to the releefe of others: than when wee receiue to become rich our selues. For it cannot agree with Gods seruants, that they should couet to hoord vp. To be short, now we see whereat Saint Paule amed: namely that he ment not to giue bridle to the preachers of Gods word, to haue a delicate and deintie table, or to be braue to the worldward: but that they should haue wherewith to find thēselues soberly according to their degree. And therwithal also he blameth the vnkindnesse of the world, for that they which are bound to their Shepherdes do shewe themselues so niggardly, that it seemeth to be as it were a plucking out of the guttes out of their bellies, when they be spoken too for the releefe of the neede of those to whom they be bounde beyonde measure. Nowe forasmuch as that vyce hath reigned at all tymes in the worlde, and the diuell (as I sayde) hath by that llicie giuen urage the ministers, that there might bee no more teaching and instruction: