A17692:13
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.
THE DOCTRINE WHIch we shall entreat in this place, is plain enough and easy, saving that the greatest part of those that profess them selves to be Christians, do seek out and bring, I can not tell what subtleties to cloak their evil withal. But the sum of this whole doctrine is, that after we know the living god to be our father, and Jesus Christ our redeemer, we ought to consecrate both body and soul unto him, who of his infinite goodness hath taken us into the number of his sons: and to acknowledge with all kind of benevolence, honour, and obedience, that ⟨image 4⟩same benefit which our most dear saviour did vouchsafe to bestow on us after he had bought it with so great a price. And because we are bound not only to renounce all infidelity, but also to separate our selves from all superstitions, which do aswell disagree with the true service of god the father, as the honour of his son our saviour & which can by no means agree with the pure doctrine of the gospel & true confession of the faith, I said this doctrine of it self to be so easy, that only the practise and exercise thereof ought to remain unto us, saving that many men do seek certain deceitful shifts, through which they will not be overcome in that thing, the which is most chiefly condemned by gods own mouth. This cause constraineth us at this time to tarry longer in the declaration of this matter, that every man may know his own duty, and deceive not himself, thinking that he is escaped when he is covered, as the common saying is, under a wet sack. But for that there be many of this opinion, whose churches are thoroughly purged from the filthiness, & idolatries of the papism, that this argument or treatise ⟨image 4⟩is but superfluous, before we pass any further, it is not unprofitable to declare such men most foully to be deceived. First when it is declared, how great an offence it is, for us to be polluted & defiled with the idolaters, feigning our selves to cleave & consent to their impieties, we are admonished to mourn for our former since, & to ask of god forgiveness of them with all humbleness, & in this thing to acknowledge the singular benefit which he gave unto us, drawing us forth of that same filth wherein we were holden down & drowned. For we truly are not able to set forth this so great a benefit worthily enough.
THE DOCTRINE VVHIch we shal entreate in this place, is playne ynough and easie, sauyng that the greatest parte of those that professe them selues to be Christians, do seke out and bring, I can not tell what subtelties to cloke theyr euill withall. But the summe of this wholle doctrine is, that after we knowe the liuing god to be our father, and Iesus Christ our redemer, we oght to consecrate bothe body and soule vnto hym, who of his infinite goodnes hath taken vs into the numbre of hys sonnes: and to acknowledg with all kinde of beneuolence, honour, and obedience, that