A17694:73
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.
I is wonderful what a diversity a man shall find in mens desires: and yet notwithstanding there is one thing wherein all agree and jump together, and that is to be occupied here beneath in the world. Every man may well have his mark and mean by himself: but this vanity reigneth over all, not to seek their good, and felicity any where else but in this corruptible life. The which showeth that men are wonderful brutish: For we are created too an end altogether contrary and that is that having our conversation in this world we should aspire to that heavenly kingdom of GOD. And this is the cause, why this present life is called a pilgrimage or away. Wherefore whosoever will not deprive him self wittingly and willingly of the everlasting inheritance of the kingdom of God, he must begin at this point too cut of all foolish desires and light thoughts, whereby he may be occupied and withholden in this world: ⟨p. 35⟩so as his principal desire be to draw near unto God, and that nothing at the least hinder us from making haste thither. I say at the least, forasmuch as it were very requisite that all our earthly affections which do nothing but cause us to draw back from God, were fully rooted out of our hearts, to the end we may run through swiftly in this voyage we have too perform. But because we are so far of from having a mind that is pure and void from all affections, it remaineth in the second place, that we overcome all the lets that may hinder us, and follow our course howsoever it be: so as in the middest of our infirmities, we do nevertheless prefer the heavenly life before all that is in this world. It remaineth now, that we see by what means we may attain thereto.
I is woonderfull what a diuersitie a man shall finde in mens desires: and yet notwithstāding there is one thing wherein all agree and iumpe togeather, and that is to bee occupied here beneth in the worlde. Euery man may well haue his marke and meane by hymselfe: but this vanitie raigneth ouer all, not to seeke their good, and felicitie any where else but in this corruptible life. The which sheweth that men are wonderful brutish: For wee are created too an ende altogeather contrary and that is that hauing our conuersatiō in this worlde wee shoulde aspyre to that heauenly kingdome of GOD. And this is the cause, why this present life is called a pilgrimage or away. Wherefore whosoeuer will not depriue him selfe wittingly and willingly of the euerlasting inheritaunce of the kingdom of God, hee must beginne at this point too cut of all foolyshe desires and light thoughtes, whereby hee may bee occupied and witholden in this worlde: