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,…

But if this colour may take place, then it must be said that Joseph should have don no evil, to have committed whoredom with his mistress, not seeking the fulfilling of his pleasure: but only to yield to the violence which she offered him. This had then bin foolishly don of him to suffer so much, and to lay himself open to such infamy, seeing he had the mean to escape it. But it rather becometh us to hold us to the testimony of the holy ghost, who ⟨p. 6⟩praiseth this constancy of his. If men do no evil in playing the idolaters, to avoid the rage of Papists: He that shall be his masters band, shall not offend. A man shall be excused when he poisoneth his neighbour, or when he committeth any treason for fear of offending him to whom he is subject. This article is much stood upon, but as I have said, there is no hardness or doubt in it: but it is good to see into what confusion they fall, who imagine by their cunning sleights to escape the judgement of god. There are divers which at this day use another starting hole: for confessing that it is a detestable thing to mingle themselves with the Idolatries of the Paynims, they will not that this extend it self to the superstitions of the Papacy: as though all the impieties of the Paynims had not bin the corruptions of the true service of God, From whence I pray you drew the Paynims all their ceremonies, but from the holy fathers? The mischief was that they corrupted that which was well instituted of God. And yet all the abominations that ever were in the world, had this goodly cloak of the name of God & of Religion: but this made them not therefore justifiable, neither might the faithful communicate with them. Let us proceed farther. Although that I agree he• […] with them that there was a difference betwixt the idol •••eof Papists, and that of the Paynims in times past, yet they cannot deny but that God as straightly forbade his old people the Idolatry of Bethel, as the Idolatry of strange countries. When the Calves were set up in Dan and Bethel, it was done under the name of God: yea, of him which brought his people out of Egypt. But, forasmuch as the Service there established, was contrary too the doctrine of the Law, God ⟨image 13⟩condemned all those that went thither to defile them selves.

But if this collour may take place, then it must be said that Ioseph should haue don no euil, to haue committed whordom with his maistresse, not seeking the fulfilling of his pleasure: but only to yeelde to the violence which shee offred him. This had then bin folishly don of him to suffer so much, and to lay himself open to such infamie, seeing he had the meane to escape it. But it rather becōmeth vs to hold vs to the testimonie of the holy ghost, who