A17692:16
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.
For no man can in heart or any conformable fashion or in will, and in purpose of mind, or feigning, or by any true or feigned way approach to idols, but he must so far go back from god. Wherefore let this sentence be thoroughly persuaded and remain deeply printed in our hearts, that they which seek god with a true and pure mind, to the end to possess him for their inheritance, will have no communion and fellowship with idols, ⟨image 7⟩with whom god hath that divorce and debate, that he would have all his to proclaim and make continual and deadly war upon them. And in this place David by name doth express, that he will never be partaker of their oblations, nether have their names in his mouth and talking. He might have said on this wise, I will not deceive my self with unwise and foolish devotions of the unbelievers, I will not put my trust in such abuses, nor I will never forsake God's truth, to follow these lies, but he speaketh not on this manner, but doth rather promise constantly, that he will never be conversant among their ceremonies. Therefore he doth testify so far forth as concerneth the service of god, he will abide continually in all purity and holiness both of body and soul. And first in this place we must consider, whether this be not idolatry to signify and declare by outward tokens, our agreement with those superstitions, wherewith the service of god is corrupted & utterly perverted. They that swim (as the common saying) betwixt two waters, allege this saying, seeing that god would be honoured ⟨image 7⟩in spirit, idols can by no means be honoured unless a man put his trust in them. But to this may be easily answered, that god doth not so require the spiritual service & adoration of the mind, that he granteth and remitteth the other part of our nature unto idols, as though that part should seem nothing at all to belong unto him. For it is said in many places, that the knees must be bowed before god & also the hands lifted up to heaven. What then? surely the chief honour that god requireth is spiritual but the outward signification whereby the faithful do testify that it is god only whom they serve and honour, must so immediately follow, that they must at one time be joined together But one place shall so suffice for all, to confute that objection which they snatch of one word, that they shall be plainly rebuked & convict. In the .iii. chap.
For no man can in heart or any conformable fashion or in wyll, and in purpose of minde, or faining, or by any true or fained waye approch to idols, but he must so far go back frō god. Wherefore let this sentence be thorowly persuaded and remaine depely printed in our heartes, that thei which seke god with a tru and pure minde, to the ende to possesse him for their enheritance, wyll haue no communion and felowship with idoles,