A17717:183
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.
Paul, when he warneth the Corinthians, that this were a wicked and infamous thing for them to suffer, as they had already suffered fornications among them.1 Know ye not (saith he) that your bodies are the temples of the holy ghost? Lo then, seeing God doth us this honour, to choose our vile bodies, which are not only brittle vessels, but carrions, even earth and rottenness, & yet notwithstanding God honoureth them so far, as to make them temples of his holy spirit, to dwell therein, & shall we venture so to moil them in all filth & infection? Shall we make them as stables and sties for hogs? What a treachery is that? ⟨p. 65⟩What an abominable wickedness? Neither is this all. For let us consider whither S. Paul leadeth us.2 Our bodies (saith he) are the members of Jesus Christ. This is then all one, as if a man should rent in pieces the body of Jesus Christ, when he abandoneth his body unto fornication and uncleanness. For it is certain that we cannot intermingle the son of God with our filths & abominations, he being the fountain of all purity. So then, when a man yieldeth himself unto fornication, he doth as it were tear in sunder the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, as much as lieth in him: not that we may do it, for the son of God is not subject unto us, to be so dishonoured, but we notwithstanding shall be culpable of such a blasphemy as this, we shall be guilty of such an injury done unto him. Therefore let us learn that God will, that not only every one for his part observe the loyalty and faithfulness required in marriage, but in general, that we be sober, and chaste, to walk in all purity of life, & not to give the bridle to all filthiness and uncleanness. The reasons which I have already alleged ought well to move us hereunto: and this also which I have already touched of adulteries, being applied of us to this purpose, may lead us to all sober and chaste living. Let us therefore have all our senses tied under such temperance and sobriety, that when the devil shall solicit us to any uncleanness, we may always give him the repulse, that he find no access unto us, being excluded from all entrance.3 A certain Paynim knew well to say, That it is not enough for a man to have his hands abstinent: that is, that he be not given to rapine and spoil, to wrong and injury any one: