A17694:30
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.
There are yet some others which are more impudent: For not only they labour too wrest the word, making men believe that it is not so great & enormous a sin: but they most plainly and flatly maintain that it is no sin at all. It is sufficient, say they, that GOD be served with the heart: very well, if the heart were not double. For where there is an integrity and soundness, there the body shall never be drawn into a contrary pa•••. I would know of them what it is that carrieth their feet too the Church, when they go to hear Mass. Their legs would never stir of their own motion.
There are yet some others which are more impudente: For not onely they labour too wreste the worde, making men beleeue that it is not so great & enormious a sinne: but they most plainely and flatly maintaine that it is no sinne at all. It is sufficient, say they, that GOD bee serued with the hearte: verie well, if the heart were not double. For where there is an integritie and soundnesse, there the body shal neuer be drawne into a contrary pa•••. I would knowe of them what it is that carryeth their feete too the Church, when they goe to heare Masse. Their legges would neuer sturre of their owne motion.
They must therefore needs confess that they have some manner of affection to serve the idols: yea in that they desire too behold them with the enemies of the trueth, and that their life is more precious unto them then the honour of God. But albeit their impudency be too too shameful: in such sort, that I am ashamed to dispute against it, as though they had some colour of reason: yet nevertheless it behoveth to do it forasmuch as they please them selves so much therein, & are as it were so drunken therewith. It is enough as they think, if God be worshipped in spirit. But whereto then shall the body serve?1 Saint Paul exhorteth us to serve the Lord with both: because they belong unto him. God hath created the body, and shall it be permitted therewith to do homage to the Devil? It were much better that they showed them selves to be flat Manichees, denying that God were the creator of the whole man. If they had the least taste in the world of the Gospel, they would never burst out into such licentious liberty: For they show that they know not what it is to have bin bought by the blood of the Son of God. And if it be so, how should we hope for the resurrection of the flesh, unless it were for that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer both of our bodies and souls. Saint Paul in the first Epistle to the Corinthians, and the 7. Chapter, giveth us warning, that we ought not too be the servants of men, seeing that we were bought so dearly. He therefore that gives himself too the service of Idols, treadeth he not the blood of Jesus Christ under his feet, which is the price of the immortal glory that we wait for in our bodies? And to what reason is it, that our bodies should be defiled and profaned before