A17725:26
Two godly and learned sermons, made by that famous and worthy instrument in Gods…Two godly and learned sermons, made by that famous and woorthy instrument in Gods…
Two godly and learned sermons, made by that famous and worthy instrument in Gods church, M. John Calvin. Which sermons were long since translated out of Latin into English, by M. Robert Horne late Bishop of Winchester, at what time he suffered exile from his country, for the testimony of a good conscience, as his apology in the beginning of the book will witness. And because these sermons have long lien hidden in silence, and many godly and religious persons, have been very desirous of them: at their earnest request they are now published by A.M.Two godly and learned sermons, made by that famous and woorthy instrument in Gods church, M. Iohn Caluin. Which sermons were long since translated out of Latine into English, by M. Robert Horne late Byshop of Winchester, at what time he suffered exile from his country, for the testimony of a good conscience, as his apology in the beginning of the booke will witnes. And because these sermons haue long lyen hidden in silence, and many godly and religious persons, haue beene very desirous of them: at theyr earnest request they are nowe published by A.M.
London: printed by John Charlewood for Henry Car, 1584
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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 do I affirm before my Judge Jesus Christ, and his whole Church, that I have not sinned, because I took a wife, and therefore am falsely accused as a carnal or fleshly man,1 for so doing: and for my purgation herein, and to prove my saying to be true in deed, and also to approve my doing herein, I take witness to the law of God, the law of nature, and the civill laws, till three hundred years after Christs ascension, the example of Christs Apostles: S. Pauls counsel to the Corinthians, and in many other places, the Council of Nice, and all the Fathers of the Church, to the second Carthage Council, which was four hundred and twenty years after Christs ascension. If these suffice not, or else may be excepted against, when I hear it, I shall answer it. If these be allowable and sufficient, then am I falsely accused: for all these testify plainly, that it is lawful ⟨image 14⟩and godly, and in no wise forbidden, but that a Priest may marry. Wherefore, I end with this saying of S. Augustine: 2Quest. nou. & veter. test. quest. c.xxvii. Talis est enim quorundam versutia, quia ut sanctitatis & castinoniae, amatores see simu• l•nt, nuptias esse dicunt dannandas, ut per hoc commendentur, & populum à veritate avertant▪ Such is (saith S. Augustin) the subtlety of some men, because they would feign themselves, lovers of holiness and chastity: they say, marriages are to be damned, that by this means they might be commended, and turn the people from the trueth. 3Mark that S. August. noteth these men of hypocrisy, subtlety, of seeking worldly praise, and deceiving the people. Consider also, that the marriages of Priests were not forbidden in his time: but then this painted holiness began, as you may perceive by his words, and was confirmed by the second Carthage Council, shortly after his death. When these subtle hypocrites, who condemn holy matrimony, as carnality, and feign themselves chaste livers, to be esteemed in the world, and that they may the rather deceive the simple people, have run till ⟨image 15⟩