A17717:144
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.
If Princes will induce us to do evil, if they will overthrow the pure doctrine of God (as we see overmuch in the world that this fury and madness is in many, which would have religion bended at their lust, making it but an image of wax, which would have the service and worship of God ordered according to their fantasies) it pleaseth not God that we be obedient unto them in that behalf. For who are they? They have lost all authority when they revolt from the obedience of him, who hath the chief and sovereign empire. Must the devils be forced to bend the knee before God,1 & our Lord Jesus Christ, and shall there be men found which would usurp such mastership, that in the mean time the honour of God shall be overthrown, and all religion cast down to the ground? So then let us learn so to obey both Princes, fathers, and mothers, that God retain his entire right, fully & wholly: and that we be not hindered, to yield him the honour which appertaineth unto him: but as far as we may, without wounding our con science, we must obey them in all quietness. And though they which have authority over us, acquit not themselves of their duty: yet we owe them obedience, so that the children ought not despitefully to behave themselves, when their fathers shall be over sharp & bitter unto them, & shall exercise too great rigour against them. True it is, that fathers are forbidden to use cruelty against their children: yea, forbidden to discourage them. But yet, although the fathers consider not to govern their children by gentleness:2 yet ought the children to bear with it patiently. Briefly, we ought to bear the injuries quietly and patiently of all those which have authority over us ⟨image 56⟩And thus ye see what God would give us to understand in this commandment. Now he addeth also the promise: That thy days, saith he, may be prolonged, & that thou mayest prosper upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. But there resteth yet a clause in the commandment, which for that we are hardly ordered to humility, God placeth for a spur to quicken us forward, saying: Thy God commandeth thee this. And it serveth to the confirmation of the doctrine we have above touched: namely, that these shall be vain & frivolous shifts, to call into question, whether they which are in degree of honour above us, deserve so or no: