A17717:206
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
Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of God by Moses, otherwise called the Decalogue. Gathered word for word, presently at his sermons, when he preached on Deuteronomy, without adding unto, or diminishing from them any thing afterward. Translated out of French into English, by I.H.Sermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God by Moses, otherwise called the Decalogue. Gathered word for word, presently at his sermons, when he preached on Deuteronomie, without adding vnto, or diminishing from them any thing afterward. Translated out of Frenche into English, by I.H.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for John Harison, 1579London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Iohn Harison, 1579
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
but it behoveth that we be poor in heart, that is to say, that we be puffed up with no such pride, as to repose our trust and confidence in our riches, that we take not an occasion by them to oppress such as are feeble and weak, such as have no credit to underprop and stay them up in this world: lastly, that we be prest and ready to be impoverished when it shall please GOD. He which at this day is very rich, which hath his garners, and his sellers full, which hath his bags fraughted and full stored, which hath lands and possessions, which hath a rich trade of merchandise: let him, when it shall please God to bereave him of all, not think it strange: let him not be ever much grieved for it, but let him mind the patience of Job, to say:1 The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken it, blessed be the name of the Lord. Ye see then how it is a very har• thing to be rich: yea, except we come to this point, to order our selves to the will of God, to receive peaceably what soever he giveth us: that is to say, to bear patiently the poverty which he sendeth, and to content our selves with that which he shall have given us into our hand, without setting our heart thereon. For otherwise it must needs be, that we be always thieves, whether we abound in riches, or be in poverty. For the poor shall be provoked to do evil, & it seemeth them that God will dispense with them for their wickedness: yea, oftentimes they will use this cavillation: O, I see this man seeketh nothing else but to devour me, even to tear the fleece from my back, he would destroy me altogether, if it were possible: and why shall it not be permitted me to revenge my self on him? Lo how every one would pay himself. But it is not for us to take from him that which he hath spoiled. So then if we be poor, we shall incontinently be driven to stealing, except we take unto us this bridle, to say, Well: our Lord will exercise us, and for this cause we want ⟨image 78⟩the goods of this world. We have not that we could wish, and this is to this end, that it pleaseth God so to humble us. Lo one thing to be noted. And let a man labour diligently to surmount this temptation. For we see that even Solomon desireth of the Lord not to be poor,2 for fear of being provoked to steal.