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,…

If these subtle Sophisters had been there, they would have laughed too scorn the simplicity of these three servants of GOD. For they would have said, Poor souls, This is not too worship them, seeing you put no affiance in them: there is no idolatry but where there is devotion. But these holy personages followed better counsel. And in deed, this answer proceeded not from their own brain: but it was the holy Ghost that enforced their tongues: against which if we will not resist, it is meet we take out of this place a true rule and definition, that this is a true kind of Idolatry, when any outward act is done that is contrary to the true service of God, although that it be done colourably and through hypocrisy. These hypocrites cavil gaily, This no Idolatry, seeing we have no trust in them: yet shall these men continually remain condemned by this sentence, that the great judge hath pronounced thereof. But such kind of people strive about a word, pretending only in part too lessen their fault, which they can not altogether excuse. They will easily grant and ⟨p. 4⟩confess, that this is ill done: but they would have men too esteem it as a venial sin.

If these subtil Sophisters had beene there, they woulde haue laughed too skorne the simplicitie of these three seruauntes of GOD. For they woulde haue sayde, Poore soules, This is not too woorshippe them, seeing you put no affiance in them: theere is no idolatrie but where there is deuotion. But these holy personages followed better counsell. And in deede, this aunswere proceeded not from their owne braine: but it was the holye Ghoste that enforced their tongues: against which if we will not resiste, it is meete we take out of this place a true rule and definition, that this is a true kinde of Idolatrie, when any outward acte is done that is contrary to the true seruice of God, although that it be done colourably and through hypocrisie. These hypocrites cauill gaily, This no Idolatrie, seeing wee haue no trust in them: yet shall these men continually remayne condemned by this sentence, that the great iudge hath pronounced therof. But such kinde of people striue about a woorde, pretending onely in parte too lessen their faulte, whiche they can not altogyther excuse. They will easily graunt and ⟨p. 4⟩confesse, that this is yll done: but they woulde haue men too esteeme it as a veniall sinne.