A17694:59
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.
Thou shalt be led thither (saith our Saviour Jesus Christ unto Peter) whither thou wouldest not. So when such fears of death shall prick us: let us labour to have the upper hand, or rather let God overcome for us: and not withstanding let us hold our selves assured, that this is an acceptable sacrifice unto him, that we resist & fight against our affections, to the end we may be wholly at his commandment. And this is the principal war, wherein God will have those that are his to employ them selves: that is, that they enforce themselves, to bring down all that which exalteth it self in their minds & understandings, too turn them away from the path that is showed, unto them. In the mean time the consolations are so ample, that we may well say that we are more then slothful, when we fail and wax faint hearted. In old time a great number of people, for the desire of a silly Garland of leaves, refused no travail, no pain nor trouble: yea they made no account to die: Notwithstanding there was not any one of them, which fought not at adventure, being uncertain whether he should win or loose the prise. God hath set forth unto us an immortal crown, through which we are made partakers of his glory. He meaneth not that we should fight at adventure: but he promiseth unto us all, such a reward as we ought specially too desire. What occasion then have we, to seek any farther: do we think that it is said in vain that if we die with Jesus Christ we shall also live with him? The triumph is altogether like,1 & we shun to fight as much as lieth in us. This in the judgement of man is a doctrine quite ⟨p. 22⟩contrary. I confess it: and also when Jesus Christ pronounceth,2 that they that suffer persecution for righteousness sake are blessed, he propoundeth a sentence which is not easily received, in the world. Contrariwise, he would that we should esteem that to be our chiefest happiness, which our understanding would judge to be our greatest misery. It seemeth unto us that we are miserable, when God leaveth us to be trodden down by the Tyranny and cruelty of our enemies: but the want is that we look not unto the promises of GOD, the which certify us that all shall turn to our good. We are thrown down, seeing the wicked stronger then we, and to set their feet upon our throat: but such a confusion as S.