A17692:104
Four godly sermons against the pollution of idolatries comforting men in persecutions, and teaching…Foure godlye sermons agaynst the pollution of idolatries comforting men in persecutions, and teachyng…
Four godly sermons against the pollution of idolatries comforting men in persecutions, and teaching them what commodities they shall find in Christs church, which were preached in French by the most famous clerk John Calvin, and translated first into Latin and afterward into English by divers godly learned men.Foure godlye sermons agaynst the pollution of idolatries comforting men in persecutions, and teachyng them what commodities thei shal find in Christes church, which were preached in French by the moste famous clarke Ihon Caluyne, and translated fyrst into Latine and afterward into Englishe by diuers godly learned men.
London: printed by Rouland Hall, 1561
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.
We have all ready spoken what favour love and honour he doeth show unto us, when he doth call us so lovingly and gently unto him that he may work our Salvation, and that he may bring us unto the true and perfect felicity from the which we ⟨image 77⟩are so far away by nature. But this must we also mark and consider that god doth prick and move us by all means, to take heed that we fall not into misery. First of all we have eyes so wandering & wanton, that it seemeth a very miserable case. For in all this our life there is nothing but the vanities of this world which do keep all our senses occupied, & Satan hath infinite delusions and those most crafty, whereby he continually doeth circumvent and beguile us. Although all his giles and deceits are none other thing, but certain foolish visors & shows trifling and counterfeit pageants and jugglings of game players. But experience doth teach plainly how foolish we are, how mad and destitute of all sense seeing that we suffer our selves so easily and so often times to be deluded and deceived. Wherefore if we were wise & well advised this voice should sound continually in our ears. Seek my face. And what seek we? The more careful and diligent that god is in procuring our salvation, we are the more careless & slow in following after it. And would to god we were not like kicking and resty horses ⟨image 77⟩more ready to go backward then forward. Not withstanding this example is not set fotrh unto us in vain. For this reverent answer and protestation of David that he did meditate this doctrine in his heart, whereby he and all the faithful are admonished to seek the face of god doth declare unto us to what thing we ought to apply our study and diligence, that god calling us unto him lose his labour altogether upon us. And in this doctrine there be two points most worthy to be marked. The first is that so soon as God had thus spoken & commanded. Seek my face: he answereth with most earnest affection unto this word. The second is, that after he hath consented to the precept of god & affirmed it, he promiseth that he will seek the face of god in deed, in work, & diligence show the same. And surely this is the order that we must keep in worshipping of god, first of all to give access & entry to the word and commandment of god as we are taught in another psal. If you do here his voice this day harden not your harts.
We haue all ready spoken what fauour loue and honour he doeth shewe vnto vs, when he doth cal vs so louyngly and gently vnto hym that he maye worcke oure Saluacion, and that he maye bryng vs vnto the trewe and perfite felicitie from the whyche we