The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

Furthermore here is also a promise. In deed a question might be moved here, why Saint Paul saith, it is the first commandment of Promise: seeing there is a promise added likewise too the second commandment of the law.¹ For there it is said, I am the Lord which do show mercy in a thousand generations, too such as love me, and keep my commandments. Here is a much larger promise than that whereof mention is made in this text. And how then doth Saint Paul say, that it is the first commandment with promise? The answer is easy: For Gods promising of mercy too a thousand generations in the first table, is not a restraint of it too that only commandment, but an extending of it to the whole law: as if he should say, there is nothing better for you than to submit your selves to my will, for otherwise you be in a cursed plight. And for proof thereof, do not all things that you can hope for, come too you of mine only free goodness? Now, for my part, I will not fail such as serve me, and seek too honour me: but they shall find continually that I am a merciful God. Herein (as I said afore) our Lords intent is too draw us too the obeying of his commandments and ordinances with a willing mind. And so it is no special promise proper too any one commandment alone. But the promise that Saint Paul speaketh of here, (where it is said) Honour thy father and mother, that thou mayst live long upon the earth, is peculiar (too that commandment alone.) As if he should say, God is so gracious, that he will cause them too prosper through his blessing and favour, which behave themselves humbly and meekly, and yield dew reverence too their fathers and mothers. Not without cause therefore doth Saint Paul say, that it is the first commandment with promise, namely with such promise as is special, and hath respect too none other commandment than that.

Furthermore here is also a promis. In deede a question myght be moued heere, why Saint Paule sayth, it is the first commaundement of Promis: seeing there is a promis added lykewyse too the second commaundement of the lawe.¹ For there it is sayd, I am the Lord which doo shewe mercie in a thousand generations, too such as loue mee, and keepe my commaundements. Heere is a much larger promis than that wherof mention is made in this text. And how then dooth Saint Paule say, that it is the first commaundement with promis? The answer is easy: For Gods promising of mercie too a thousand generations in the first table, is not a restreint of it too that only cōmaundement, but an extending of it to the whole law: as if he should say, there is nothing better for you thā to submit your selues to my wil, for otherwyse you be in a cursed plyght. And for proof therof, doo not all things that you can hope for, come too you of myne only free goodnesse? Now, for my part, I will not fayle such as serue mee, and seeke too honour mee: but they shall fynde continually that I am a mercifull God. Heerin (as I sayd afore) our Lords intent is too drawe vs too the obeying of his commaundements and ordinances with a willing mynd. And so it is no speciall promis proper too any one commaundement alone. But the promis that Saint Paule speaketh of heere, (where it is sayd) Honour thy father and mother, that thou mayst liue long vppon the earth, is peculiar (too that commaundment alone.) As if he should say, God is so gracious, that he will cause them too prosper through his blissing and fauour, which behaue themselues humbly and meekly, and yeeld dew reuerence too theyr fathers and moothers. Not without cause therfore dooth Saint Paule say, that it is the first commaundment with promis, namely with such promis as is speciall, and hath respect too none other commaundement than that.