A17705:448
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…
The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the Ephesians. Translated out of French into English by Arthur GoldingThe sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the Ephesians. Translated out of French into English by Arthur Golding
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Lucas Harison, 1577
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
True it is, that we have our lesson, where God telleth us, that he will not have any man too trouble his neighbour, nor too •ommit robbery, extortion, covetousness, deceit, or any manner of naughtiness: he telleth us those things, and therewithal commandeth us too live chastely, and too abstain from all violence. Now when wars are moved in the world, when blood is shed, when infinite ra••shments and robberies are committed; shall we say, that such things are don, without Gods forecasting in his mind what was good? Think we that he suffereth fortune too rule the roast here beneath, as though he himself were asleep in heaven, or reposed himself there in his pleasures? What a blasphemy were that? We would make God as an Idol. Again, what would become of us, if it were so?1 for Satan is as a roaring Lion, seeking to devour us as his pray, and we should be continually as it were in his paws and between his teeth. Then if God ordered not all things in this world, ne held Satan and all the wicked bridled: surely we should be a hundred […] forlorn, and perish every minute of an hour. Again, if we knew ⟨p. 126⟩not that wars, and such other like things are Gods judgements, whereby he chastiseth our sins: it is certain, that we would never be drawn to repentance. Now then, let us learn the thing that is told us here, I mean according too our small ability: that is to wit, that God hath but one will, & that the same is certain & throughly agreeing with it self, and hath no lightness nor inconstancy in it: and yet nevertheless, that we must therewithal reverence his secret determinations, which are as now so high and profound, as we cannot reach unto them. And if we cannot resolve our selves of all the doubts which the devil will cast in our ways (making us too think) How is it possible that God should be clear from sin, and not be the author of evil,2 seeing he serveth his turn both by Satan and by all the wicked, and employeth them too advance them selves one against another? how is it possible that he should be blameless? When any of these fancies come in our heads, or if any of those dogs which belch out their blasphemies in that wise against God, assault us: