A17692:107
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.
And if he abstain he sinneth likewise, although it were in nothing else yet in this point that he giveth offence unto men omitting & neglecting the sacrament which the son of god hath institute. ⟨image 80⟩In what perplexity then standeth his mind, that the matter can neither be done nor undone but that god must most grievously be offended? I do not rehearse their other incommodities & miseries, for this only example is more than sufficient to declare their miserable state and condition. Now when a man hath been in this miserable perplexity, all his life long uncertain whether to turn himself, yet at the death must he look for most grievous assaults & tentations, for then certainly satan will heap together all his ar tillarye & of this miserable captive was letted before that he cold not serve god for the solicitude & care of his wife & family then at the point of death his state is most miserable. Wherefore they which doubt whether they may rid themselves forth of this mire or rather forth of this helly pit, under a certain pretence of obedience unto worldly prince, do pervert all the order of nature. For that lawful prayer which God alloweth that we should make for our princes, is agreeable and very convenient, both to their authority which he giveth them and also to the office wherewith he hath bound & charged ⟨image 80⟩us towards them. Thus S. paul doth exhort unto prayers to be had and made for kings & magistrates, that we may lead a godly quiet & peaceable life with honesty & the fear of god. But this amplification & setting forth of the obedience unto earthly princes is to far above measure, when it is joined with the departing from god & the diminishing of the honour & worship which is dew to the heavenly king. The miserable Jews in deed were compelled to remain so long in the bondage of Babylon whiles the time was fulfilled which was appointed of god to suffer the miserable captivity: but let these men that talk so much of mans law and obedience, with whom I have to do, declare that we christians are bound so far by like obedience, that of our own accord we must deprive our selves of those spiritual benefits which god giveth most liberally to his children. They do feel a great necessity wherewith they are sore pressed, & they are greatly enticed by their own infirmity: but god showeth them the remedy for these so great evils.
And if he abstein he synneth likewise, althoghe it were in nothīg els yet in this point yt he giueth offence vnto mē omitting & neglecting ye sacramēt which ye son of god hath institute.