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…

And for the same cause also doth he say, that he may present unto himself a beautiful and glorious Church. In saying so, he declareth that all the outward show and gay glistering which we can have to the worldward, is but smoke: and that we must have a pureness of hart. He could have said, Our Lord Jesus hath cleansed his Church, too the intent it should be pure and righteous: but he intended too express, that our pureness or cleanness, is not too please the sight of the world, that we may be praised and commended here below, as hypocrites are, whom men gape and gaze at a great way of, clapping their hands at them, and esteeming them holier than the Angels: but that it is much better for a man not too be so precise, but too walk plainly, and if there be imperfections in him, too let them be known, and yet too hold on his full pace still, having the fear of God unfeignedly in him all the while. Wherefore following this instruction of Saint Pauls, let us learn too set our selves in the presence of the Son of God: and when it cometh too the ordering of our life, let us look at him, knowing that either we must be allowed there, or else we gain nothing by being exalted and commended here beneath: though men have never so marvellous opinion of us, all (say I) shall be but mere vanity and leasing, till we have ruled and framed our life in such wise, as if we walked before the face of the Son of God, howbeit that in very deed nothing can be hidden from him. This is it that we have too remember further.

And for the same cause also doth he say, that he may present vnto himself a beawtifull and glorious Church. In saying so, he declareth that al the outward shewe and gay glistering which wee can haue to the worldward, is but smoke: and that wee must haue a purenesse of hart. He could haue sayd, Our Lord Iesus hath clensed his Churche, too the intent it should be pure and ryghtuous: but he intended too expresse, that our purenenesse or cleannesse, is not too please the syght of the world, that wee may be prayzed and commended heere belowe, as hipocrits are, whom men gape and gaze at a great way of, clapping their hands at them, and esteeming them holyer than the Angels: but that it is much better for a man not too bee so precyze, but too walk playnly, and if there bee imperfections in him, too let them be knowen, and yit too hold on his full pace still, hauing the feare of God vnfeynedly in him all the whyle. Wherfore folowing this instruction of Saint Paules, let vs learne too set our selues in the presence of the sonne of God: and when it commeth too the ordering of our lyfe, let vs looke at him, knowing that eyther wee must bee allowed there, or else wee gayne nothing by being exalted and commended heere beneathe: though men haue neuer so maruelous opinion of vs, all (say I) shalbee but mere vanitie and leazing, till wee haue ruled and framed our lyfe in such wyse, as if wee walked before the face of the sonne of God, howbeeit that in very deede nothing can bee hidden from him. This is it that wee haue too remember further.