A17717:240
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.
Behold then Saint Paul, who was instructed in such sort, that he was in great reputation among men, not among the Paynims, to say, that he was some great Philosopher: but he was taught and brought up in the law of GOD. And touching his life, he protesteth, that he lived irreprehensible, as without all fault before men: Lo, I say, Saint Paul ⟨image 91⟩an holy and learned personage after the common estimation of men, but yet a poor beast touching the law of God. And why? He saith he esteemed himself living, & that he thought himself just before God, and knew not that he had need of the mercy which GOD offereth unto all sinners. For he abstained from theft, from fornication, & such like things: he had no wicked desires in him which one might perceive, and which might be known unto men, so that he justified him self in his own fantasy. Now in the end, when God had taken pity on him, he opened his eyes, & made him to understand that which is contained in this last commandment, Thou shalt not covet. Behold how S. Paul began now first to understand the law, in which before he was a doctor, making profession thereof, wherein he had been taught and instructed from his first age. Until he had well considered and medicated of this, he tripped over the quick coals, he learned his lesson (as we say) by rot, he never tasted nor understood the force and power of the law, he never knew that this was sin, to condemn himself before God, and to have his refuge to his mercy, in the which the hope of our salvation lieth, and whereupon it ought to be grounded. Seeing then S. Paul knew not the law, and had no right understanding thereof, but by this word: let us labour herein with so much the more diligence: and seeing that all the time of his life, until his conversion, he was so blind, that he understood not this word: by so much the more ought we to be attentive in this place, for we are of no greater ability than he: but God by his holy spirit must reveal to us what this concupiscence is, which he hath in this place condemned. Now beyond all this, we must have an other admonition which is very needful and necessary for us.
Beholde then Saint Paule, who was instructed in such sorte, that hee was in great reputation among men, not among the Painims, to say, that he was some great Philosopher: but he was taught and brought vp in the lawe of GOD. And touching his life, hee protesteth, that he liued irreprehensible, as without all faulte beefore men: Loe, I say, Sainte Paule ⟨image 91⟩