A17717:274
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 withal let us note, that it is true that it served to no great purpose, that the law of God should be engraven in stones. If this were all, what is then further required? We must know that the doctrine of God proposed unto us, is indeed necessary and profitable for us, but yet that it should serve us to small ⟨image 105⟩purpose, except God should add thereunto a second grace: namely, that this which he hath pronounced, should be imprinted in our hearts and inward parts. Therefore, as God with his finger, that is by his divine power, hath written his law in two stones, so must he now by his holy spirit write it in our hearts, which are of stone, & full of hardness:1 as the Prophet declareth, when he saith, That God shall give us hearts of flesh, which shall be loft, pliable, and apt to be taught, and to receive whatsoever he shall command us. So then, seeing God hath visibly declared, that it is he which must write the law, to have it well known and understood, let us make our request, that it will please him, by the virtue and power of his holy spirit, to write it at this day in us, that we may hold it within us, and that how soever the devil labour herein, he may never wipe it out of our remembrance. Now withal Moses concludeth, that the law was delivered unto him, to conserve, and to keep it, and to be also the minister and dispenser of it to the people, that he might be acknowledged of them for a Prophet, for otherwise he could not have executed his office, he could not have edified the Church of GOD, except men had known that this charge was committed unto him. As at this time, if we were not persuaded that GOD would that his Gospel should be preached by the mouth of men, that there should be pastors in the Church to carry abroad his word, which of us would deign or vouchsafe to hear a minister? I am not, nor ante creature beside, of such dignity, as that I might persuade the world to receive what I say. But when I speak here in the name of God, that men hearken to his doctrine, to rule and order them selves thereto, and to do him homage: behold, this is of more force than all the laws, than all the statutes, than all the edicts of Kings and Emperors. Hath a mortal man done this? No.
Now withall let vs note, that it is true that it serued to no great purpose, that the law of God should be ingrauen in stones. If this were all, what is then further required? We must know that the doctrine of God proposed vnto vs, is indeed necessarie and profitable for vs, but yet that it should serue vs to small