A17692:133
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.
Therefore least that this vain show deceive the faithful it is needful they be called to another consideration to wit that they do conclude that that is true which the .xxxiii. Psalm doth teach. That blessed is the people to whom the lord is God. Therefore let the effect of this Psalm be, that the church of god though it be but one yet doth it excel all the kingdoms and common wealths of this world because god is chief ruler of this common wealth and it is governed by his empire. First to the intent it may abide safe amongest the raging tumults and fearful tempests where with the whole world is often shaken. Secondly and chiefly that it being wonderfully kept by the help of the same God may, at the length after this long warfare ⟨image 98⟩attain to the victorious crown of the heavenly vocation. And this is a special benefit of God and also a wonderful miracle that amongest so many changes of the kingdoms of the earth he doth spread his church from age to age and delivereth it from destruction to the intent it alone should continually remain. But because it is evident that whilst the wicked abound in riches & flourish in wealth and power that the pore church of god is tossed hither and thither amongest many dangers yea & almost over whelmed with infinite shipwrecks, the blessedness of the same ought herein to be set especially that it hath an everlasting state laid up for it in the heavens. As for the circumstance of the time wherein it was made it doth not make a little to the understanding of the Psalm. For although the people of Israel were come again from the banishment of Babylon & the church of God gathered were now made one body after that long scattering ⟨image 99⟩& the temple and the altar did stand yea and gods worship was restored: but because there was but a very little portion of men left of a great multitude the state of the church was low and without honour yea and that little residue was daily made less and less by the enemies, the church also their temple was nothing so beautiful as the former temple and finally there was now almost no cause left, wherefore they could conceive any good hope. And surely it seemed unpossible that they could ever have raised up them selves to the former state from the which they were fallen.
Therefore least that this vaine shew deceiue the faithful it is nedefull thei be called to another consideration to witte that they doe conclude that that is true which the .xxxiii. Psalme doth teache. That blessed is the people to whō the lorde is God. Therefore let the effect of thys Psalme be, that the church of god though it be but one yet doth it excel al the kingdomes and commen welths of this world because god is chief ruler of this cō mon walthe and it is gouerned by his empire. Firste to the intent it may abide safe amongest ye raging tumultes and fearefull tempestes where with the whole worlde is often shaken. Secondly and chiefly that it being wonderfully kept by the helpe of the same God may, at the length after this long warfare