A17694:95
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.
And hereupon it is, that he commandeth that every one of us do turn our sight thither, & that we be diligent to behold it. For it is also one sovereign good, and wherewith we ought to be fully satisfied, to rejoice in the countenance of our God as it is said in the 16. Psalm.1 Now because we cannot climb up so high without a Ladder, the second benefit that he can bestow upon us, is too give us the mean to attain too that principal & chief goodness. Wherefore let us note that this ⟨image 46⟩sentence where God saith: seek my face, is as much as if he should open the gate to make us to enter into everlasting life. It seemeth that it was not so great a matter in the time of David too come to the Temple, to see such a heap of Ceremonies as they observed there: but if we consider well that spiritual pattern which was showed to Moses in the mountain, we shall not think it strange that God saith it is his face. And indeed seeing that Jesus Christ was there revealed, what shall we say else but that God was showed there? Now let us see if God hath ordained any outward mean unto us, to be seen of us. It is true that he hath appeared unto us by his son, who is his lively image, and in whose person he would be known in all perfection: but Saint Paul declareth forthwith, in the 4. of the 2. to the Corinthians, that the Gospel is that looking glass wherein Jesus Christ must be seen and considered.2 The Sacraments have one and the same nature: & to be short, the order of the church, I mean such as God hath established in it, doeth show the same unto us. Therefore let these proud gallants of the world mock as much as they list: but forasmuch as God hath showed this benefit too stoop so low unto us, let us not be ashamed to give this honour unto his word and to his Sacraments: in them to behold as it were his face: not to the end to be holden here beneath in the corruptible Elements of the world as the Papists who make Idols of all the signs that God hath given us too lead us too Jesus Christ: but nevertheless too the end we may fully rejoice in the presence of GOD, we must go unto him by these inferior means. It is true that this which I say must not be to strictly taken, as though the faithful ⟨p. 40⟩never drew near to God, but when they come to Church: For this should be a foul superstition.