A17683:325
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.
Now if any man here will move a direction,1 whether it be lawful to wish for death: I answer briefly, that death is not to be wished for, in the loathing of life. That is one thing, I mean that to be loathing of life, when either poverty, or hunger, or ignominy, or any such thing doth make life hateful, or odious unto us. But if any man in the irksomeness, and in the disliking of his shines, be grieved to remain on the earth, according as Paul saith. O miserable man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death? He for certainty shall conceive a holy and godly desire, so that, that obedience, whereof I spake, he added, even that his affection burst not out as it were in despite of God. But who so is so affected, let him suffer him self to be stayed by the hand of God, as long as it pleaseth him. Again, if any man wish for death, because he scapeth him self in time to come, or dreadeth to undertake any office or charge, he verily striveth with God. And such was the fault of Jonah: he saith that death was more welcome then life: but why? because the Lord spared the Ninevites. We see then how blind he is, and is carried away with a mad motion & violence to wish for death. Let us therefore learn so to love this life, that we be ready to leave the fame, as often as it shall seem good unto the Lord. Let us learn also to wish ⟨image 72⟩for death, but so that we may live unto the Lord, and may proceed in our course, until he himself bring us unto our end. Now here followeth the rebuke of God.
Nowe if any man here wyll moue a direction,1 whether it be lawfull to wysh for death: I aunswere brieflie, that death is not to be wished for, in the lothing of lyfe. That is one thing, I meane that to be lothing of lyfe, when eyther pouertie, or hūger, or ignominie, or any such thing doth make lyfe hatefull, or odious vnto vs. But if any man in the yrksomnesse, and in the dyslyking of his shines, be gréeued to remaine on the earth, according as Paul sayth. O miserable man that I am, who shall deliuer me from this bodie of death? He for certainetie shall conceyue a holie and godlie desyre, so that, that obedience, wherof I spake, he added, euen that his affection burst not out as it were in despyte of God. But who so is so affected, let him suffer him selfe to be stayed by the hande of God, as long as it pleaseth him. Againe, if any man wysh for death, because he scapeth him selfe in tyme to come, or dreadeth to vndertake any office or charge, he verelie stryueth with God. And such was the faulte of Ionas: he sayth that death was more welcome then lyfe: but why? because the Lorde spared the Nineuits. We sée then howe blinde he is, and is caryed awaye with a mad motion & violence to wysh for death. Let vs therefore learne so to loue this lyfe, that we be ready to leaue the fame, as often as it shall seeme good vnto the Lord. Let vs learne also to wysh