Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of GodSermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God

God then showeth that the people of the Jews observing the rest, shall receive profit & commodity by their family. You ought to be so far (saith he) from complaining of the time which I have reserved unto my self, that of seven days there should be one dedicated to my service: that if you be not over cruel & vumercifull, if you use not tyranny toward them which are under your authority, such a day would seem convenient unto you to be chosen. For if you should have no other regard, but this policy: namely, that in this day your servants shall have some rest, this ought to leave you hereunto: but understand you always, that I have not ordained it only for your family, but for this end, you might advise your selves, considering of this ⟨image 46⟩which I have showed, that being separated from the unfaithful, you be unto me a royal priesthood, that you desire nothing else but to serve me in all uprightness, and in a pure and sincere conscience. When you shall have this consideration, then shall you know that this day shall further serve you for some earthly profit and commodity, albeit in the mean time, this is not that you ought to seek after. To speak in a word, our Lord in this place declareth unto us that which in like manner hath been pronounced •• Jesus Christ,¹ that when we shall seek the kingdom of God, all other things shall be cast upon us. For we are of that mind, that if we endeavour to mount on high to the heavenly life, and bestow our studies herein, we shall die for hunger, and this shall be to turn us from all profits and commodities. Briefly, the devil cometh always to persuade us under this shadow and wiliness, that if we employ our selves to the service of God, we must needs, die of famine, and that we shall live to be pitied of others for our misery, that we must needs quit our selves of the whole world. But of a trueth we can not serve God, except we be rid of all our affections, and cast from us these worldly cares, which press us down overmuch. Yet nevertheless, we must rest upon this blessing which is promised us: namely, that if we seek after the kingdom of heaven, we shall be blessed in these temporal and transitory things, that our Lord will have pity upon us, and will give us all that which he knoweth to be needful and convenient for this present life:

God then sheweth that the people of the Iewes obseruing the rest, shall receiue profite & commoditie by their familie. You ought to be so farre (saith he) from complaining of the time which I haue reserued vnto my selfe, that of seuen dayes there should be one dedicated to my seruice: that if you be not ouer cruell & vumercifull, if you vse not tyrannie toward them which are vnder your authoritie, such a day would seeme conuenient vnto you to be chosen. For if you should haue no other regard, but this policie: namelie, that in this day your seruantes shall haue some rest, this ought to leave you herevnto: but vnderstande you alwayes, that I haue not ordeined it onely for your familie, but for this end, you might aduise your selues, considering of this