A17717:164
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
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.
what shall then God do, unto whom nothing is hidden? And again, we have to note that, which the Apostle saith in the Epistle to the Hebrews,1 That the word of GOD resembleth him which is the author thereof, so that it must be as a two edged sword, which pierceth even to the marrow of the bones, that there is no thought in us which it searcheth not. And why? For nothing is hidden in ⟨p. 59⟩the presence of God. Seeing it is so, that nothing is hidden before GOD, it behoveth that this word prove and sound the depth of our hearts. So then it is necessary, that all that which is secrete and unknown unto men, come into account before God: and by this we be admonished to walk in such sort, that we bear no enmity nor evil will unto our neighbours. But yet notwithstanding, we must proceed further. For this is not enough, that men abstain from doing of evil, seeing they are created to aid and help one an other, and to maintain and defend one an other. God therefore, in forbidding of murders, showeth on the contrary side, that the life of our neighbours ought to be dear unto us, that we ought to employ all our travel and pain, to preserve and maintain it, as much as in us lieth. But he would begin at the negative point, the better to declare unto us, that which he commandeth. And why? For we see how vicious and wicked we are: as many thoughts as are in us, so many thorns & briers are there within us: as many affections as we have, so many brambles and thistles: & such like things grow in us. GOD therefore, not without great cause, would pluck out of our hearts, and out of our thoughts, the wickedness and the vice wherewith they are overgrown: yea, he would correct every evil and corrupt part of us. For without this,2 it is not possible to move one finger to that which is good, nay: it is impossible to have one good thought. This is the cause, why the Prophet saith, That men must break up their fallow ground, and not sow among the thorns, as if he said: I see well what you do: when one telleth you, that you have offended God, you counterfeit some fair countenance, and it seemeth that you be as it were reformed, and yet you always continue the same you were. But it is not enough to sow in a field, but one must rid the ground of roots and thistles, and first break up the ground, which hath lien fallow.