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

even bottomless gulfs, which can never be satisfied, & which are harder to content than any poor man, If we make comparison between the rich and poor, we shall find among the poor many which vex and torment themselves, which are froward and waywardly bent, many which are induced to pilfering, and to exercise many wicked sleights and practises: and again, we shall find also a great part content themselves with that which God hath given them, and keep themselves within their limits and borders. But when we come to consider of the rich, even as far as unto Kings, and Princes, we shall find that they are so inflamed and set on fire, that they burn with such a desire after the goods of this world, that they are never contented: yea, they are as it were grieved that the Sun shineth upon the poor. Briefly, we shall see, that the most part of those rich men, to whom God hath given the whole earth in possession, not yet to be satisfied, and to account it enough. For (as I have said) they are yet grieved that the poor have one common light of the Sun with them, and that the poor drink water. And albeit the poor travel, and labour, and do the best they are able for them, yet a rich man will envy and also spite at them, although he enjoy the sweat of their brows, and hath even the fruit of their blood: and it seemeth him, that a man plucketh his heart and guts out of his belly, when he eareth one morsel of meat at his cost and charges. Such miserable covetousness, or rather such ⟨p. 74⟩brutish cruelty a man shall see in the rich: and this is a thing over rife and common. So then it is not without cause, that Saint Paul saith we shall have profited exceeding much, when we shall have learned to be rich: that is to say, that we shall not be stirred up continually with a desire of getting more and more. If God giveth us any abundance, let us learn to keep our selves within our bounds, without further coveting, to say: O, such a piece of ground would be good & commodious for me, I must adjoin this to mine, & that other also. And again, this is not yet all, that a rich man desire not to grow further in wealth:

euen bottomles gulfes, which can neuer be satisfied, & which are harder to content than anie poore man, If we make comparison betweene the rich and poore, wee shall find among the poore manie which vexe and torment themselues, which are froward and waywardly bent, manie which are induced to pilfering, and to exercise manie wicked sleights and practises: and againe, we shall find also a great part content themselues with that which God hath giuen them, and keepe themselues within their limittes and borders. But when we come to consider of the rich, euen as farre as vnto Kings, and Princes, we shall find that they are so inflamed and set on fire, that they burne with such a desire after the goodes of this world, that they are neuer contented: yea, they are as it were grieued that the Sunne shineth vpon the poore. Briefly, we shall see, that the most part of those rich men, to whom God hath giuen the whole earth in possession, not yet to be satisfied, and to account it ynough. For (as I haue saide) they are yet grieued that the poore haue one common light of the Sunne with them, and that the poore drinke water. And albeit the poore trauell, and labour, and doe the best they are able for them, yet a rich man will enuie and also spite at them, although he enioy the sweate of their browes, and hath euen the fruite of their bloud: and it seemeth him, that a man plucketh his heart and guttes out of his bellie, when he eareth one morsell of meate at his cost and charges. Such miserable couetousnesse, or rather such