A17694:55
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 we are nothing ashamed, for the redeeming of a few days for this feeble life to renounce that everlasting kingdom, and to separate our selves from him, through whose power we are maintained in this life. If a man ask the veriest idiots, yea the most brutish people of the world, wherefore it is that they live, they dare not simply say, that it is too eat, too drink, and to sleep. For all men know that they are created to a more noble and excellent end. And ⟨p. 17⟩what other end shall we find out, unless it be to honour God, and to suffer our selves to be governed by him, as children of a good father: to the end that after we shall have finished the voyage of this corruptible life, we may be received into his everlasting inheritance: And this is the most principal thing, yea and all in all. When we make no account thereof, and that we are so ill inclined to a beastly life, which is worse then a thousand deaths, what can we allege for our excuse? To live and not to know wherefore this is even against nature. To reject the causes wherefore we live, for the desire of prolonging our life, as it were for three days, too the end to live in this deceitful world, and being separate from God, is such a bewitching and madness, as I know not by what name to call it. But because that persecutions cease not to be hard & bitter unto us, let us mark how and by what means, christians may strengthen them selves to patience, even to the laying down of their lives for Gods trueth. The text which we have recited, when it shall be well understood, is sufficient enough for to lead us hereunto.1 Let us go forth (saith the Apostle) of the City, after our Lord Jesus Christ, bearing his reproach. First of all he exhorteth us, although that the swords were not drawn against us, nor fires kindled for to broil and burn us, that yet we cannot be truly joined and knit to the Son of God, so long as we are rooted in this world. Wherefore a Christian although he be in quiet, yet he must have one foot always lifted up, to match towards the battle: and not only this, but he must have his affection withdrawn from the world, although that his body dwell therein. Admit that this at the first fight seem ⟨image 24⟩unto us very blunt, yet ought we well to content our selves with this word of S. Paul: