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

But it is certain, if they were now presently showed, they would still remain in their obstinacy and stubbornness, & take thereby an occasion of further envenoming and impoisoning themselves against GOD. What remaineth then for us to do? We must learn (as I have said) to content our selves with that which GOD hath once done. If GOD hath given us more than he owed us, let us receive it, and with giving of thanks let us learn not to provoke his wrath and anger against us by an over presumptuous tempting of his patience. Behold then what we have to bear in mind in this place, when the people saith, Let the Lord speak unto us no more, for it sufficeth us that were have heard his voice, and yet have been permitted of him to live. And that this we have above declared may be more certainly confirmed unto us, let us bear in mind that which is here said, What flesh hath heard the voice of the living GOD and liveth? For by these words in this place, it is plainly showed, that the people of Israel spake not in their own name, but even in the behalf of all mankind. They say not only, What are all we to hear GOD speak? but, What is all flesh? And in very deed (as I have touched in the beginning) it cannot be, but men are either staring mad, or stark drunken, when they cannot humble themselves: for there needed no other thing for them to do, but to respect their own estate and condition, to say, What are we? There is nothing, neither in our bodies, nor in our souls, but frailty. We are not now remaining in our nature wherein we were first created: but being fallen therefrom into that estate we now are in, what are we but as a water which glideth away, as a smoke which passeth and vanisheth on a sudden? And which worse is, we are enemies of GOD, and he must needs be our adversary party, forasmuch as there is nothing in us to be found, but sin and wickedness.

But it is certeine, if they were now presently shewed, they would still remaine in their obstinacie and stubbornesse, & take thereby an occasion of further enuenoming and impoisoning themselues against GOD. What remaineth then for vs to doe? We must learne (as I haue said) to content our selues with that which GOD hath once done. If GOD hath giuen vs more than hee owed vs, let vs receiue it, and with geuing of thankes let vs learne not to prouoke his wrath and anger against vs by an ouer presumptuous tempting of his patience. Beholde then what wee haue to beare in minde in this place, when the people saith, Let the Lorde speake vnto vs no more, for it sufficeth vs that were haue hearde his voice, and yet haue bene permitted of him to liue. And that this wee haue aboue declared may bee more certeinlie confirmed vnto vs, let vs beare in minde that which is here said, What fleshe hath hearde the voice of the liuing GOD and liueth? For by these wordes in this place, it is plainelie shewed, that the people of Israel spake not in their owne name, but euen in the behalfe of all mankinde. They saie not onelie, What are all we to heare GOD speake? but, What is all flesh? And in verie deede (as I haue touched in the beginning) it cannot bee, but men are either staring madde, or starke dronken, when they cannot humble themselues: for there needed no other thing for them to doe, but to respect their owne estate and condition, to saie, What are wee? There is nothing, neither in our bodies, nor in our soules, but frailtie. We are not now remaining in our nature wherein wee were first created: but beeing fallen therefrom into that estate wee nowe are in, what are wee but as a water which glideth away, as a smoke which passeth and vanisheth on a soudeine? And which worse is, wee are enimies of GOD, and hee must needes bee our aduersarie partie, forasmuch as there is nothing in vs to be found, but sinne and wickednesse.