A17694:76
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 pray you what is too be supposed of us, who are so rude & earthly, whose faith is so weak, & whose religion is so cold and barren? We must needs conclude, albeit that David for the perfection that was in him might well have let slip such base helps, yet they are more then necessary for us: considering the infirmity that is in us. But what? They who are the perfectest know much better what they lack them selves, then those which have no perfection at all. What is David so endued and adorned with angelical virtues? Why, this is to make him better too understand, how meet it was for him to be more inflamed by the preaching of the law, by the Sacraments, and other like exercises. Contrariwise these glorious villains that at this day make no reckoning of all these things, show evidently thereby, that they have not so much as a drop of of Christianity in them: I speak of our corner creeping and caskate Philosophers, that live in Papistry. O it is a goodly matter (say they) and much to the purpose, that a man cannot be a Christian unless he not to Geneva, to have his ears filled with Sermons, and to use such Ceremonies as are observed in that City. Can not we our selves alone both read & pray? Must men yet go to Church to be taught, seeing that every one hath the Scripture in his house? I answer hereto, that we bind no man to depart from that place where he dwelleth: yea when a man lives purely and serveth God as he ought amiddest the Popes tyranny we esteem an hundred times better of him, then of our selves who are in liberty and rest. But the question is here of two points, to wit, whether they that feeling their own infirmity, and coming to seek in a Christian Church, such a confirmation as David ⟨p. 37⟩did at that time when the Temple was at Jerusalem, do not well: Also whether all generally, and especially those that are withholden by force ought not too sigh, seeing them selves destitute of the ordinary means, which were to bring them to GOD? The very beasts who have no understanding nor reason, they will bray after their pasture, and those who are called the children of God, shall not they care for that which serveth to nourish and maintain their faith?
I pray you what is too bee supposed of vs, who are so rude & earthly, whose faith is so weake, & whose religion is so colde and barraine? Wee must needes conclude, albeit that Dauid for the perfection that was in him might wel haue let slip such base helps, yet they are more then necessary for vs: considering the infirmity that is in vs. But what? They who are the perfectest know much better what they lacke them selues, then those which haue no perfectiō at all. What is Dauid so indued and adorned with angelical vertues? Why, this is to make him better too vnderstād, howe meet it was for him to be more enflamed by the preaching of the law, by the Sacramētes, and other like exercises. Contrarywise these glorious villaines that at this day make no reckoning of all these thinges, shewe euidētly thereby, that they haue not so much as a droppe of of Christianitie in them: I speake of our corner creeping and caskate Philosophers, that liue in Papistrie. O it is a goodly matter (say they) and much to the purpose, that a man cannot be a Christiā vnlesse he not to Geneua, to haue his eares filled with Sermons, and to vse suche Ceremonies as are obserued in that Citie. Can not we our selues alone both reade & pray? Must men yet goe to Church to be taught, seeing that euery one hath the Scripture in his house? I answeare hereto, that wee binde no man to depart from that place where he dwelleth: yea when a man liues purely and serueth God as he ought amiddest the Popes tyrranny wee esteeme an hundred times better of him, then of our selues who are in libertie and rest. But the question is heere of two poinctes, to wit, whether they that feeling their owne infirmitie, and commyng to seeke in a Christian Churche, such a confirmation as Dauid