A17717:304
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.
And always, & as often as Moses shall come to you, when I shall have sent him, hear ye with all reverence that which he shall tell you for your profit & commodity. And so let us note, that when the word of God shall be preached unto us by men, that this is not don according to their pleasure & fantasy, but because that God hath here delivered a doctrine, which is profitable for us. And this ought the rather to stay us from being moved with any foolish affection & desire to change, as seemeth us, what we unadvisedly shall mislike: as always ⟨image 116⟩ways novelties delight & please us. Know we then whereon we are to stay & rest our selves: namely, that all the time of our life we hear the word of God, which shall be preached unto us by men. And why? Because not only the will of God is such, but he hath also declared that the thing is good & behovefull for us. Moreover, God in this place awakeneth the people, better to consider of observing the commandments of the law than they had done. For the people had said, We will do them. And God saith on his side, that he will give them the will to do them, that he will breed in their heart such a desire. Now by these words he giveth us to understand, that it was a small thing for them, and it cost them little to make a promise, as men will with full mouth make great protestations, but when the time cometh to fulfil the things they have spoken, they show full well how at random and unadvisedly their promises have been made. God therefore to make the people feel how hard a matter it was to observe the law, sayeth in this place, I would feign it might be so. For the word he useth, when he sayeth, he will give them the will and power, importeth in Hebrew, this, which we say. And so be it: and, I could wish it well. It is true, that GOD here speaketh much after the manner of men, using a very humane speech. For he needeth not to wish any thing: all things are in his hand. And therefore one might reply unto him: And this is in thee, O Lord, to do: askest thou who will give them an heart and will? Who hath power to do this? For man of himself will never be inclined unto that which is good: but he must be from elsewhere driven thereunto, and this can not be by any creature, but by the holy spirit.
And always, & as often as Moses shall come to you, when I shall haue sent him, heare ye with all reuerence that which he shall tell you for your profite & cōmoditie. And so let vs note, that when the word of God shalbe preached vnto vs by men, that this is not don according to their pleasure & fantasie, but because that God hath here deliuered a doctrine, which is profitable for vs. And this ought the rather to stay vs from being moued with any foolish affection & desire to change, as seemeth vs, what we vnaduisedly shall mislike: as alwayes