A17717:180
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.
Now then we see how highly God esteemeth of honesty and chastity. And why? When he will that we be sober, continent, chaste, and modest, he saith unto us, Except you be honest and sober, you be as adulterers: that is to say, What so ever excuse you shall pretend before men to make your faults light and little, I have you in great hatred: for all your life is infected before me, you are corrupt & stinking in my sight. We see then, as I have already touched, that here is a strait commandment to hold us in all honesty and modesty. And by this we see, how the excuse of them which say, They do none any wrong, when they are inordinate in their living, and full of many outrageous enormities, how vain (I say) and frivolous this excuse of theirs is. For our Lord knoweth well why he used this manner of speaking. For it is not because he is tongue tied, and cannot speak otherwise, or that he knew not in what order to set and digest ⟨p. 64⟩his matters: but because he would show, that albeit men will make the matter very small, when they are dissolute and disordered in living, he hath an other balance than so, wherein to weigh their offences, and will condemn all of them as adulterers which abuse themselves to all villainies and unchaste dealings. So much the more therefore ought we to weigh this word which is here mentioned, when it is said, Thou shalt not be an adulterer. But all this notwithstanding, we must consider of the degrees which are contained under this commandment.
Now then we see how highlie God estemeth of honestie and chastitie. And why? When he will that we be sober, continent, chaste, and modest, he saith vnto vs, Except you be honest and sober, you be as adulterers: that is to say, What so euer excuse you shall pretend before men to make your faultes light and little, I haue you in great hatred: for all your life is infected before me, you are corrupt & stinking in my sight. We see then, as I haue alreadie touched, that here is a streight commaundement to holde vs in all honestie and modestie. And by this we see, how the excuse of them which say, They do none any wrong, when they are inordinate in their liuing, and full of many outragious enormities, how vaine (I say) and friuolous this excuse of theirs is. For our Lord knoweth well why he vsed this maner of speaking. For it is not because he is tongue tied, and cannot speake otherwise, or that he knew not in what order to set and digest ⟨p. 64⟩