A17717:138
Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of GodSermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God
Sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the.X.Commandments of the Law, given of God by Moses, otherwise called the Decalogue. Gathered word for word, presently at his sermons, when he preached on Deuteronomy, without adding unto, or diminishing from them any thing afterward. Translated out of French into English, by I.H.Sermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God by Moses, otherwise called the Decalogue. Gathered word for word, presently at his sermons, when he preached on Deuteronomie, without adding vnto, or diminishing from them any thing afterward. Translated out of Frenche into English, by I.H.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for John Harison, 1579London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Iohn Harison, 1579
Sermon 7: The. 7. Sermon, wherein it is entreated of the second Table.
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.
For were we more wild & savage by nature than we are, yet this ought (as I may so say) enchaine and fetter us herein, that God declareth that he is dishonoured by us, except we do him homage in the persons of them, whom he hath placed in his room, & in whom he hath imprinted his image. To speak briefly, we see that charity beginneth at this end, that we be humble ⟨image 53⟩and modest, and that none lift up themselves arrogantly & presumptuously, that none esteem of themselves above measure, but that we be ready to humble our selves, to the end we may be ruled & governed in whatsoever it shall please God to require our obedience.1 See why in this sort S. Paul leadeth us to charity, when he expoundeth this commandment of obeying magistrates. For he showeth that if we have not this mildness & gentleness in us, to bow the neck when our Lord putteth on the yoke, we bear no charity towards our neighbours. If we desire such a confusion & medley in the world, that we would that rules & superiors have no duty & reverence done them, it must needs come to pass that all be set out to the spoil of the robber, and it were much better that every one lived apart & without company, than in the society of men, to see such a confusion as should be, if we keep not the rule of government which God hath appointed. Let us then well remember, that to the end we may live with our neighbours, it behoveth every one to correct in himself this haughtiness & presumption, and not retain & keep it in our hearts. But let us learn to be humble & lowly, knowing that this is to order & make our selves equal to them of the lower sort (as S. Paul speaketh.)2 That we may so do, let us consider our selves what we are. For behold what abuseth us: even this, that every one would have greater preeminence than God hath given him, & being (as we are) blind, we forget our selves, and know not our own poverty, our own faults & vices. Every one will think himself a marvellous man when he is nothing. And herehence issueth this, that we make no account of our neighbours: yea, that we despise all the virtues & good gifts which God shall have bestowed on them. It is then spitefulness & unthankfulness which stirreth us up unto pride, in such sort, that every one yieldeth unto himself more than appertaineth unto him, & this is the cause why we cannot frame our selves unto obedience, as we ought.