A17717:271
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.
For this ignorance surmounteth all the knowledge and wisdom of the world: namely, when we desire to know no more, than our Lord permitted and granted unto us. Now let us come unto that which Moses addeth: he saith, That the law was written in two tables of stone, & that it was delivered to him. When mention is made of two tables, we must call to mind that which hath been said & handled heretofore: that is, that God could well have written the whole law in one stone, but he would write it in two, that this distinction being made, we might so much the better comprehend that which is contained in the law. For we see, our Lord hath so chewed those things for us, which are there contained, that we might not allege that he speaketh in to high a language for us to understand. For as much as there are two principal points in our life, our Lord hath divided his law into two tables: namely, that we might know, how we ought to govern our selves towards him: and then, how we are to live & to be conversant with our neighbours. Will a man order his life in all perfection? It behoveth first that he give him self to the service of God, that he know what God requireth and approveth: and after this, we must live in such uprightness and equity with our neighbours, that we show hereby, that we are the true children of God. First therefore we must know how God will be honoured and worshipped of us. Secondly, we must render to our neighbours, that which appertaineth to them: observing this indifferency of nature, not to do to another, which we would not have done to us. So God hath declared in two tables, in what sort he will be served of us: as we have above declared, that he proposeth him self only to be worshipped, that men should forge no new Gods. Again, he hath declared, that he will not be represented by images nor moppets ⟨image 103⟩[…] ⟨p. 78⟩[…] ⟨image 104⟩that he is a spirit, and will be spiritually worshipped of us, and not as men shall fancy, to rear up this or that kind of worship: but he will be served in spirit. Again, he will have his name sanctified, he will that men exercise them selves in his word: and above all, that every one withdraw him self from his own thoughts and affections, that we rest us to be ruled and governed only by GOD. And this is contained in the first table of the law.