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

for they profit nothing, because in the whole worship of God, which they pretend, there is nothing, but the inventions and devises of men. To serve God, is to mumble a few small prayers, and to crouch before their moppets and idols, to trudge from altar to altar, to chant their Masses, to gad on pilgrimage, to fast such a day in the honour of such and such a Saint, to eat no flesh on Fridays nor Saturdays: briefly, it is nothing else, but a dungeon of such like trumperies, whatsoever they have under this shadow and title of the service of God. But shall one find that God ever sounded one word or syllable hereof? No, all this hath been devised by men. Let us now consider by this place, whether God accepteth such a service as good and lawful: nay contrariwise, he saith, That thou fear the Lord thy God, & that thou observe all his commandments. But when men turn themselves aside from such a way, and follow their own fantasies, and whatsoever shall have been forged by men, they sufficiently declare, that there is no fear of GOD in them: for otherwise they would offer unto him the sacrifice which he above all other preferreth: namely,¹ obedience, as hereof it is entreated in the first book of Samuel ⟨image 126⟩the fifteenth Chapter, That if men hearken not unto the voice of God, to subject them selves thereto, but contrariwise follow that which shall have been invented in their own brain, or forged and devised by men, it is as idolatry: yea, as the sin of witchcraft, which is detestable in the sight of God. Behold, how the holy Ghost speaketh hereof, although mortal men are of a clean contrary judgement. Now therefore we see how Moses hath here declared, that when we shall unfeignedly and in deed fear God, we will do him this honour, to be governed according unto his will, we will not grant men this leave to lead and conduct us whither it seemeth them good: but when GOD shall speak, we will know that every mouth must be stopped, & that our ears must be opened to hear and to receive whatsoever he shall say unto us. But yet it sufficeth not that every one for his own part only employ him self to serve and honour God, but we must procure and endeavour as much as in us lieth, that he be adored and worshipped of the whole world:

for they profite nothing, because in the whole woorshippe of God, which they pretend, there is nothing, but the inuentions and deuises of men. To serue God, is to mumble a fewe small prayers, and to crouch before their moppets and idols, to trudge from altar to altar, to chaunt their Masses, to gad on pilgrimage, to fast such a day in the honor of such and such a Saint, to eate no flesh on Fridayes nor Saturdayes: brieflie, it is nothing else, but a dongeon of such like trumperies, whatsoeuer they haue vnder this shadowe and title of the seruice of God. But shall one finde that God euer sounded one woord or syllable hereof? No, all this hath bene deuised by men. Let vs now consider by this place, whether God accepteth such a seruice as good and lawfull: nay contrariwise, he saith, That thou feare the Lord thy God, & that thou obserue all his commaundements. But when men turne themselues aside from such a way, and followe their owne fantasies, and whatsoeuer shall haue bene forged by men, they sufficientlie declare, that there is no feare of GOD in them: for otherwise they would offer vnto him the sacrifice which he aboue all other preferreth: namelie,