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

Our will therefore must be present in this behalf, and we must account it as sweet and pleasant, whatsoever our Lord hath commanded us. You see then wherein consisteth the first step and degree of honest and upright walking with men: namely, that we know, that fathers and mothers, and all others which are lifted up to any dignity above us, must have the honour and obedience which appertaineth unto them, otherwise God is dishonoured in their persons: and this is as much, as if we refused to do him homage, & to yield our selves subject to him. Now in the next place after this fifth commandment, Moses addeth, That we commit no murder. It is true, that at the first sight it would seem, God should prescribe us no great perfection in forbidding us murders. But we have to note that God would comprise in some short sentence, all that which were requisite to the well ordering of our whole life. And therefore it was not for him to forget or ⟨p. 55⟩leave any thing behind. Now we must know, that the life of men shall then be well ordered, when they abstain from doing of evil, from all wrong, and violence: again, when they walk honestly, in all chastity, when they do no hurt one to an other, when they shall keep their tongues also from harming their neighbours, by lying, or any slanderous speaking. All these good properties ought to be in us, if we will conform our selves to the will and justice of God. So then we ought not to marvel that God speaketh here expressly of murders. For this is the better to bridle us, that we presume not to commit any outrage, or attempt any way to harm our neighbours. But for all this, let us bear in mind, that which before we have touched: namely, that God hath spoken after a gross & rude manner, to apply him self to all sorts of men, and to be understood even of the most idiots. For we see how every one excuseth him self of ignorance: and if a thing be somewhat hard and obscure, it seemeth to us, that we may wash our hands as innocent and guiltless, if we shall have failed in our duty: and if we can say, Oh this was over high, and to profound for me, and I could never come to any understanding of the matter: we think all is cocksure. To the end therefore that men might no longer have such shifts, God would speak in such sort, that even little children might understand what he saith.

Our will therefore must bee present in this behalfe, and we must account it as sweete and pleasaunt, whatsoeuer our Lord hath commaunded vs. You see then wherein consisteth the first step and degree of honest and vpright walking with men: namelie, that wee knowe, that fathers and mothers, and all others which are lifted vp to any dignitie aboue vs, must haue the honour and obedience which apperteineth vnto them, otherwise God is dishonoured in their persons: and this is as much, as if we refused to do him homage, & to yeld our selues subiect to him. Now in the next place after this fift cōmandement, Moses addeth, That we cōmit no murder. It is true, that at the first sight it would seme, God should prescribe vs no great perfection in forbidding vs murders. But we haue to note that God would comprise in some short sentence, all that whiche were requisite to the well ordering of our whole life. And therefore it was not for him to forget or