A17722:196
Thirteen sermons of Master John Calvin, entreating of the free election of God in…Thirteene sermons of Maister Iohn Caluine, entreating of the free election of God in…
Thirteen sermons of Master John Calvin, entreating of the free election of God in Jacob, and of reprobation in Esau A treatise wherein every Christian may see the excellent benefits of God towards his children, and his marvellous judgements towards the reprobate, first published in the French tongue, & now translated into English, by John Field, for the comfort of all Christians.Thirteene sermons of Maister Iohn Caluine, entreating of the free election of God in Iacob, and of reprobation in Esau A treatise wherin euery Christian may see the excellent benefites of God towardes his children, and his maruelous iudgements towards the reprobate, firste published in the French toung, & now translated into English, by Iohn Fielde, for the comfort of all Christians.
London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Thomas Man and Toby Cooke, 1579London: printed by Thomas Dawson for Thomas Man and Tobie Cooke, 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.
Now when it is said that Abraham obeyed the voice of God: this is to show us the true rule how to live well, to the end that every one frame not unto him self devotions apart, as we are accustomed to do: For when men will serve God, what do they? They take liberty to live after their own device, and they contemn whatsoever God ⟨image 87⟩commandeth. What is that, that men may call the service of God in the papacy? That which men have devised of their own foolish brain. For when men shall have diligently gathered all their jugglings together, which they play there, if it be said that God be well served and honoured, & yet they do nothing of all that God hath commanded, and that they do despise him: It falleth out thereupon, even as he himself complaineth thereof: to wit, that men for their traditions reject that which was ordained for them.
Nowe when it is saide that Abraham obeyed the voyce of God: this is to shewe vs the true rule howe to liue wel, to the end that euery one frame not vnto him selfe deuotions aparte, as we are accustomed to doe: For when men will serue God, what do they? They take libertie to liue after their owne deuice, and they contemne whatsoeuer God ⟨image 87⟩commaundeth. What is that, that men may call the seruice of God in the papacie? That which men haue diuised of their owne folish braine. For when men shall haue diligently gathered all their iuglings togither, which they play there, if it bee said that God be wel serued and honoured, & yet they doe nothing of all that God hath commaunded, and that they doe despise him: It falleth out therevppon, euen as he himself complayneth therof: to wit, that men for their traditions reiecte that which was ordained for them.
Seeing then, that so it is that we are so inclined too set out our own foolish imaginations, let us learn that when the holy Scripture speaketh unto us of living well and holily, when it speaketh of the perfection which GOD alloweth, that is to obey his voice: as also he showeth us by his Prophet, Have I demanded you to offer me any sacrifice?