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

Now, if after this, one think not of this punishment which hangeth over, and is ready to fall upon them, which so have falsified the name of God, or have dishonoured him, must we not needs say, that this proceedeth of some beastly drunkenness, and that men are altogether without sense, and understanding: and that Satan hath altogether blinded them? Alas yes: & yet notwithstanding, this thing is so common, as nothing more. If some master should say in his house, I will be obeyed in all things: but lo, one thing which I desire above all to be done, and I will not suffer any one to fail herein, but I will put him out of my service, or I will correct and chastise him as he deserveth: If some master (I say) should give such a charge of some one thing, although in the rest a servant would not be over diligent, yet in this would he have some fear. Now behold God curseth them which transgress and offend against his law in any article. Cursed be he which honoureth not his father & mother, Cursed be he which stealeth, Cursed be he which committeth adultery, Cursed be he which observeth not all the things which are contained in the law. But here, by some specialty, he menaceth a general threat on them which shall abuse the name of GOD. By this he declareth, that although he will that we observe his law, in all points, and that our life be ordered thereby, notwithstanding he reserveth ⟨image 31⟩this article to this place, as if he would his name should have an especial privilege. Now if for all that, this threatening slip out of our mind, and that we consider not of it, and that it stayeth us not, but we venture still over boldly to sport our selves so with God, and his majesty, must it not needs be said, (as I have already touched,) that the devil hath carried us away headlong, & bereaved us of all sense and reason? Yet if this threatening awake us not at this day, we shall in the end know that God hath not published his warnings in vain. Let us therefore learn to be touched to the quick, when God so precisely setteth himself against us, and protesteth that he will be adversary party to them, which have abused his name. For let us consider what it shall cost us, if we abstain not from rash and superfluous oaths, and above all, from blasphemous perjuries.

Nowe, if after this, one thinke not of this punishment which hangeth ouer, and is readie to fall vppon them, which so haue falsified the name of God, or haue dishonored him, must we not needes say, that this proceedeth of some beastlie dronkennesse, and that men are altogether without sense, and vnderstanding: and that Sathan hath altogether blinded them? Alas yes: & yet notwithstanding, this thing is so common, as nothing more. If some maister should say in his house, I will bee obeyed in all thinges: but loe, one thing whiche I desire aboue all to bee done, and I will not suffer any one to faile herein, but I will put him out of my seruice, or I will correct and chastise him as he deserueth: If some maister (I say) should geue such a charge of some one thing, although in the rest a seruant would not bee ouer diligent, yet in this would he haue some feare. Now behold God curseth them whiche transgresse and offend against his lawe in any article. Cursed be he which honoreth not his father & mother, Cursed be he which stealeth, Cursed be he which committeth adulterie, Cursed be he which obserueth not all the thinges which are conteined in the lawe. But here, by some specialtie, hee manaceth a generall threate on them whiche shall abuse the name of GOD. By this hee declareth, that although he will that wee obserue his lawe, in all pointes, and that our life bee ordered thereby, notwithstanding he reserueth