A17694:25
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.
Notwithstanding to the end that this may be known more clearly, & that we also may be better touched therewith, let us mark the reason that he addeth, the which is, as it were the ground of the horror that ⟨image 9⟩he hath to mingle him self among the idolaters. The Lord (sayeth he) is mine inheritance. And is not this common to all the faithful? At the least there is not any one which doth not rejoice herein. And in deed it is very certain, that God being once given unto us in the person of his Son, doeth daily invite us, to the end that we should possess him: but there are very few which are so affected in this behalf as the matter deserveth. For we cannot possess God but with this condition, that we also be altogether his. It is therefore for good cause that David groundeth him self upon this theme, seeing that God is his inheritance that he will abstain from all pollutions of idols, the which do turn us away and estrange us from him.
Notwithstanding to the end that this may be knowen more cleerely, & that we also may be better touched therwith, let vs mark the reason that he addeth, the which is, as it were the ground of the horror that ⟨image 9⟩hee hath to mingle him selfe amonge the idolaters. The Lorde (sayeth hee) is mine inheritance. And is not this common to all the faithfull? At the least there is not anie one which dooth not reioyce herein. And in deede it is very certayne, that God being once giuen vnto vs in the person of his Sonne, doeth dayly inuite vs, to the ende that we should possesse him: but there are verie fewe which are so affected in this behalf as the matter deserueth. For we cannot possesse God but with this condition, that wee also be altogither his. It is therefore for good cause that Dauid groundeth him selfe vppon this theame, seeing that God is his inheritance that hee will abstayne from all pollutions of idols, the which do turne vs away and estraunge vs from him.
1This is the cause why the Prophet Isaiah when he had upbraided the Jews, that they had given themselves to false and strange gods, which they had made unto them selves, he addeth, Lo these, these (I say) are thy portion: signifying by these words, that God denieth all covenant and fellowship with idolaters, and disinheriteth and depriveth them of that so infinite a benefit, which he would have bestowed upon them by giving him self unto them. Some man will reply that he entreateth there, of those which put their trust in idols, and deceive them selves through unbelief. I confess it: but contrariwise I answer, that if they which wholly attribute, the honour of God unto idols, are fully cut off from him: they also at the least stray in part from him, who through fear and infirmity feign themselves to consent unto superstitions. For it cannot be, that any man in what sort soever it be, can draw near unto idols, either in hart, in