A17694:112
Four sermons of Master John Calvin entreating of matters very profitable for our time,…Foure sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin entreating of matters very profitable for our time,…
Four sermons of Master John Calvin entreating of matters very profitable for our time, as may be seen by the preface: with a brief exposition of the LXXXVII. Psalm. Translated out of French into English by John Field.Foure sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin entreating of matters very profitable for our time, as may bee seene by the preface: with a briefe exposition of the LXXXVII. Psalme. Translated out of Frenche into Englishe by Iohn Fielde.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Thomas Man, 1579
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.
It is certain that when we shall call upon the name of God in true faith, that he can easily turn these dry deserts, into running waters: but in the mean time it is meet that we according to our duty, put our hands as they say too the work. For God would not that we should remain blockish and slothful, without removing either hand or foot, Rather he commandeth us too dig pits. Let us therefore travail too dig until that we have accomplished our journey. Let us set before our eyes the poor miserable Soldiers, who every month sell their life for a certain price as for their wages. If they be in the camp what poverty do they endure? ⟨image 55⟩If they be besieged in any place, they yet endure much more grievous things: If they undertake any voyage, there is neither cold nor heat, wind nor rain, that may let them of, from the enterprise they have taken in hand. And sometimes they are brought to such extremity, that unless they dig too find water, they have not a drop to drink. There is no labour distress or misery, which they will not suffer for the performance of that which they have undertaken. And yet when they have done all, whether they escape or no, they have but lost their labour, because they have but served Satan.1 The son of God through his infinite grace hath chosen us to be his soldiers: & we know what reward he hath prepared for us. How much more courageous then ought we to be in his service? than those miserable & desperate men, that do but purchase their own destruction? Neither is this mentioned here that any man should reckon how many miles there is from his house to the place where he may freely worship God, make confession of his faith, and hear the pure doctrine of the Gospel: We have yet to go a far longer journey which lasteth all our life long. Have we haunted the Church of GOD a year or more? If we continue, we shall daily find new cares. For sometimes we shall be visited with sickness, sometimes with poverty, either our wives or children, shall die, or else the means we have too serve God shall be taken away as before time, & we shall be tossed with disquietness and sundry troubles. Wherefore it is very requisite that even unto the end we have our hands ready too dig Pits, and our nails too scratch the earth, if necessity so require. If any man allege, how then?
It is certaine that when wee shall cal vpon the name of God in true faith, that hee can easily turne these dry desertes, intoo running waters: but in the meane time it is meete that wee according to our duetie, put our handes as they say too the worke. For God woulde not that wee shoulde remaine blockishe and slouthful, without remoouing either hand or foote, Rather he commaundeth vs too digge pittes. Let vs therfore trauaile too digge vntill that wee haue accōplished our iourney. Let vs set before our eyes the poore miserable Souldiers, who euerie moneth sel their life for a certayn price as for their wages. If they be in the campe what pouerty do they endure?