A17683:209
The lectures or daily sermons, of that reverend divine, D. John Calvin, pastor of…The lectures or daily sermons, of that reuerend diuine, D. Iohn Caluine, pastor of…
The lectures or daily sermons, of that reverend divine, D. John Calvin, pastor of the Church of God in Geneva, upon the prophet Jonah, by N.B. student in Divinity. Whereunto is annexed an excellent exposition of the two last epistles of S. John, done in Latin by that worthy doctor, August. Marlorate, and englished by the same N.B.The lectures or daily sermons, of that reuerend diuine, D. Iohn Caluine, pastor of the Church of God in Geneua, vpon the prophet Ionas, by N.B. student in Diuinitie. Whereunto is annexed an excellent exposition of the two last epistles of S. Iohn, done in Latin by that worthy doctor, August. Marlorate, and englished by the same N.B.
London: printed by J. Charlewood for Edward White, 1578
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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 here are we to speak some what more largely of the fear of God. The scripture when it speaketh of the fear of God,1 sometime meaneth outward worship sometime again, true piety. Where outward worship is touched there it is a small thing. For hypocrites are accustomed to use their ceremonies and testify that they worship the true God: but yet because they submit not themselves unto God with a sincere affection, neither bring forth faith nor repentance, therefore do they nothing else but mock and counterfeit. But the fear of God is oftentimes taken for godliness▪ it self: and then is it called the beginning and the head of wisdom, and also wisdom it self, as in the book of Job: 2The fear of God therefore that is that reverence whereby the faithful willingly submit themselves to God, is the beginning or head of wisdom. But oftentimes also it cometh to pass that men are touched with a servile fear, so that they desire to obey God▪ In the mean time yet they rather desire that he were plucked from the throne. This servile fear is full of contumacy, because they which cannot exempt themselves from his power and Empery, yet do gnaw the bridle. Such was this fear whereof Jonah he•• entreateth. For all the men whereof Jonah ⟨p. 27⟩here maketh mention so suddenly were not changed, that they wholly addicted themselves to God. For they had not profited so much, neither was the conversion of their minds so perfect and true, that they were thereby changed into new men. How then feared they? Even as God wrested from them a certain confession for a time. It may yet be that some of them profited them for the more and more: but I now speak generally of all.
But here are we to speake some what more largely of the feare of God. The scripture when it speaketh of the feare of God,1 sometyme meaneth outwarde worshippe sometime againe, true pietye. Where outward worship is touched there it is a small thinge. For hipocrits are accustomed to vse their ceremonies and testifye that they worship the true God: but yet because they submite not themselues vnto God with a sincere affection, neyther bring foorth fayth nor repentaunce, therefore doo they nothing els but mocke and counterfeyt. But the feare of God is oftentymes taken for godlynesse it selfe: and then is it called the beginning and the head of wisdom, and also wisdom it selfe, as in the booke of Iob: