A17642:879
The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…
The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated out of Latin into English for the great profit of our country-men, by Christopher Fetherstone student in divinityThe commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated out of Latine into English for the great profite of our countrie-men, by Christopher Fetherstone student in diuinitie
Londini: printed by Thomas Dawson, 1585
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.
they are neither endued with the perfect fear of God, neither are they any thing else but a vain shadow, how greatly soever they boast of their virtue. Neither is it without cause that Christ hath this title given him,1 that he revealeth the cogitations of many hearts.
they are neither indewed with the perfect feare of God, neither are they any thing else but a vaine shadowe, howe greatly soeuer they boast of their vertue. Neither is it without cause that Christ hath this title giuen him,1 that hee reuealeth the cogitations of manie hearts.
Religious. And what manner religion could that be, where there was no reverence of the word of God? We must note that there be four kinds of men: as there be few which worship God sincerely & from the heart, so there be few who openly profess the manifest and gross contempt of him. These be two sorts. And the more part is neither quite without religion, neither is it altogether void of the common worship of God: but yet notwithstanding whiles they do coldly and as it were overfields play with God, if they be throughly examined, they be but profane. Like as at this day the ungodliness of many is after a sort shrouded under ceremonies, and the feigned profession of the worship of God. So that in all ages there have bin certain worshippers of God who have worshipped him like stage players, whose holiness did wholly consist in gestures and vain pomps. In Pauls time, even as at this day, a peculiar study of godliness was to be found in a few: whose religion though it were impure, and their heart feigned, deceitful, and double: yet are they counted after a sort religious in respect of their zeal. But hereby appeareth what account we may make of bare religion, which driveth headlong through unadvised heat the professors thereof, to resist the kingdom of god, & to oppress his glory. Furthermore it is to be thought that though these matrons had not altogether given their name to Judaism, neither had they bin nuzzled in the doctrine of the Law, yet were they half Jewesses and that was the cause that they did so willingly take