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 albeit the Jews had well observed the ceremony, albeit they should have assembled themselves together on the Sabaoth day without putting a finger to their household affairs, & yet in the mean time should nourish in themselves their wicked thoughts & affections, & after put them in practise: this would have been but a mere mocking of God, an abusing of his name, a defacing & perverting of the whole order he had instituted, as he also reproacheth them. For the principal point was to have respect to the truth of the figure: namely, to the spiritual service of God. And yet notwithstanding it behoved also, that the Jews should keep the ceremony, which was commanded them. For God held them in this bridle, as not content that they should have only the substance of things, but also the shadows & figures of them, until the coming of Jesus Christ. Now hereby understand that which S. Paul saith, That now we are not tied unto this bondage of the ancient fathers, to observe in this sort the Sabaoth day. For we must do this honour to our lord Jesus Christ, that we content our selves with that which he hath brought to us in his own person, without retaining any longer that which was exterior & ceremonious under the law. Now then it is easy to gather how this observation pertaineth unto us at this day. Touching the ceremony (as I have said) it is past & done away. We must then come to the substance, that is, that to the end we may serve God well & sincerely, we learn to withdraw our selves from all our own wills, & all our evil thoughts & affections. And why? For otherwise when we will serve God, we mar all. It behoveth therefore that all our own wisdom be laid aside, & that we hear God speak, not following our own wisdom & fantasies. Thus ye see the beginning & first step to the right observing of the Sabaoth day, as we ought: namely, not to trust to that which we think & imagine to be good. For we must rest. And how rest? For sooth we must abide still & quiet. Our thoughts must not stir to wander & devise this & that. We must (I say) remain quiet in the obedience of our God. And when we shall be pricked & stirred up by our lusts,¹ let us call to mind that these are enemies against God, & that all our affections are wicked & rebellious.

For albeit the Iewes had well obserued the ceremonie, albeit they should haue assembled themselues together on the Sabbaoth day wtout putting a finger to their houshold affaires, & yet in the meane time should nourish in themselues their wicked thoughts & affections, & after put them in practise: this would haue bene but a mere mocking of God, an abusing of his name, a defacing & peruerting of the whole order he had instituted, as he also reprocheth thē. For the principal point was to haue respect to the truth of the figure: namely, to the spiritual seruice of God. And yet notwithstanding it behoued also, that the Iewes should kepe the ceremonie, which was cōmanded them. For God held them in this bridle, as not content that they should haue only the substance of things, but also the shadowes & figures of them, vntil the cō ming of Iesus Christ. Now hereby vnderstand that which S. Paule saith, That now we are not tied vnto this bondage of the auncient fathers, to obserue in this sort the Sabbaoth day. For we must do this honor to our lord Iesus Christ, that we cōtent our selues wt that which he hath brought to vs in his owne person, without reteining any longer that which was exterior & ceremonious vnder the law. Now thē it is easie to gather how this obseruation perteineth vnto vs at this day. Touching the ceremonie (as I haue said) it is past & done away. We must then come to the substance, that is, that to the end we may serue God well & sincerelie, we learne to withdraw our selues frō all our owne wils, & all our euil thoughtes & affections. And why? For otherwise whē we will serue God, we marre all. It behoueth therfore that all our own wisdom be laid aside, & that we heare God speake, not folowing our own wisdom & fantasies. Thus ye see the beginning & first step to the right obseruing of the Sabbaoth day, as we ought: namely, not to trust to that which we think & imagine to be good. For we must rest. And how rest? For sooth we must abide stil & quiet. Our thoughts must not stir to wāder & deuise this & that. We must (I say) remain quiet in the obedience of our God. And when we shal be pricked & stirred vp by our lustes,