Two and twenty sermons of Master John Calvin In which sermons is most religiously…Two and twentie sermons of Maister Iohn Caluin In which sermons is most religiously…

Now when he saith, that it grieved him to see the word of God clean forgotten, what then shall become of the matter, when as men shall not only forget it, but even with a most detestable fury oppose them selves wholly against it? As at this day, we shall not only say that the word of God is forgotten: but men of a set purpose run violently upon it utterly to abolish it. And to prove it to be so, I beseech you, whence cometh this cruelty and fury of the Papists: but because that they are purposed clearly to go against it? to be angry with God, not abiding too suffer them selves to be subject unto him by any manner of means? They will not say thus in plain words, but we may judge of the matter so far forth as we see it. For, how should it be possible, that they should so rage against the known and certain truth, if they were not even the very professed enemies of God? and without they went about to stand against him even to the hard hedge, as we say? I will not deny but that men many times shall forget the word of God, when as they shall be carried away with their wicked affections. As thus, when a man is greatly given to lechery, this villainous desire so blindeth him, as that he clearly forgetteth whatsoever he hath heard spoken against it never so little before: to wit, they which defile their bodies with lechery, do deface, as much as in them lieth the image of God, pollute his temple, divide and pull in pieces ⟨image 157⟩the body of Jesus Christ, shut them selves quite out of the kingdom of heaven, and provoke the heavy wrath and curse of God against them. And yet an whoremaster forgetteth all these notable sayings, which are set down too keep him within his rein. The covetous man also forgetteth what equity and right is, let him be admonished thereof never so often, as to be pitiful to his neighbours, to help the poor and needy, rather then to take away an other mans goods and substance, and to be so given to our own gain: to procure and profit the welfare of our neighbours, rather then to be given too seek our own private commodity. A covetous man I say, will quite forget all this. And why so? Forsooth, because he is blinded with this covetous desire of gain, and too heap up together the goods of this world.

Nowe when he saith, that it grieued him to see the word of God cleane forgotten, what then shall become of the matter, when as men shall not onely forget it, but euen with a most detestable furie oppose them selues wholy against it? As at this day, we shal not onely say that the word of God is forgotten: but men of a set purpose runne violently vpon it vtterly to abolishe it. And to proue it to bee so, I beseeche you, whence commeth this crueltie and furie of the Papistes: but bicause that they are purposed clerely to goe against it? to be angry with God, not abiding too suffer them selues to be subiect vnto him by any maner of meanes? They will not say thus in plaine woordes, but wee may iudge of the matter so farre foorth as wee see it. For, howe should it be possible, that they should so rage against the knowne and certaine truth, if they were not euen the very professed enemies of God? and without they went about to stand against him euē to the hard hedge, as we say? I will not denie but that men many times shall forget the word of God, when as they shalbe carried away with their wicked affections. As thus, when a man is greatly giuen to lecherie, this villainous desire so blindeth him, as that hee clerely forgetteth whatsoeuer he hath heard spoken against it neuer so little before: to wit, they which defile their bodies with lechery, do deface, as much as in them lieth the image of God, pollute his temple, deuide and pull in pieces