Sermons on the Song of Hezekiah, Title page – Dedication
SERMONS OF JOHN CALVIN, VPONUPON THE SONGE that Ezechias made after he had bene ſicke, and afflicted by the hand of God, conteyned in the 38. Chapiter of Eſay.
¶Tranſlated out of Frenche into Engliſhe. 1560.
☞Newly ſet fourth and allowed, accordyng to the order appointed in the Quenes Maieſties Iniunctions.
¶Imprinted at London, ouer Alderſgate, by Iohn Day.
And are there to be ſolde at his ſhoppe vnderunder the Gate.
¶Cum Gratia & priuilegio Regiae maieſtatis.
❧TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE, AND Chriſtian Princeſſe, the Lady Katharine, Ducheſſe of Suffolke.
IT often falleth out in experience (my gracious & ſingular good Lady) that ſome men beynge oppreſſed with pouertie, toſſed with worldlye aduerſitye, tourmented with payne, ſorenes, & ſicknes of body, and other ſuche cōmon matters of griefe, as the world counteth miſeries & euils: Yet hauing theyr myndes armed & fourniſhed with prepared patience, and defence of inward vnderſtandyng, all theſe calamities can not ſo farre preuaile, as to make them fall, nor yet once ſtoupe into the ſtate of men to be accompted miſerable: but they beare them with ſuche conſtaunce, as if ſuche afflictions were not of ſuch nature as other commonly do fele them, or as if thoſe men were ſuche vponupon whome thoſe troubles coulde not worke theyr naturall propertie. On th'other ſide we ſe ſome that flowyng in earthly wealth & ſuffiſance, free from fortunes crueltie, healthy in bodye, and eueryevery waye to the worldes ſeming bleſſed: yet with mynde not well inſtructed, or with conſcience not well quieted, euen vponupon ſuch ſmall chaunces as other can lightly beare, are vexed aboue meaſure with reaſonleſſe extremitie. Wherby appeareth that the greues of body and calamities of fortune do ſo farre onelyonly extende, to afflict, or make a man miſerable, as they approch to touch the mind, & aſſaile the ſoule. Which proueth that the peines and diſeaſes of minde & ſoule are not only the moſt greuous, & moſt daungerous, but alſo they onelyonly are peinfull & perillous, and thoſe of the body & fortune are ſuch as the mynde vſeth, and maketh them. So as to a ſicke ſtomacke of mynde, all bodylie matters of delite and worldely pleaſures are lotheſome and diſpleaſant, as on th'other ſide the power of a healthy ſoule eaſely digeſteth and gathereth good nouriture of the hard peines, and bitter tormentes of the body and fortune. He then, that cureth the ſicke minde, or preſerueth it from diſeaſe, cureth or preſerueth not onelyonly minde, but bodye alſo: and deſerueth ſo much more praiſe and thanke, than the bodies Phyſiciō, as the ſoule excelleth the bodie, and as the curing, or preſeruation of them both is to be preferred before the cure of the bodye alone. But we ſe dayly, when ſkilfull men by arte, or honeſt neyghbours hauyng gathered vnderſtandyng of ſome ſpecyall dyſeaſe & the healing therof by theyr owne experiment, do applie their knowledge to the reſtoring of health of any mans body in any corporall ſickneſſe, howe thankfully it is taken, howe muche the releued patient accompteth him ſelfe boūd to him by meane of whoſe aide and miniſtration he findeth him ſelf holpen or eaſed. What then deſerueth he, that teacheth ſuch a receipt, wherby health both of body and mynde is preſerued, & wherby if health be appaired, it may be reſtored, yea whereby ſicknes and common miſeries continuyng ſhall not hauehave ſo muche power to trouble a man as to make him ſicke, or miſerable? This receipte God the heauenly Phyſitian hath taught, his moſt excellēt Apothecarie maſter Iohn Caluine hath compounded, & I your graces moſt bounden & humble hauehave put into an Engliſhe box, & do preſent vntounto you. My thākes are takē away & drowned by the greate exceſſe of duetie that I owe you: Maſter Caluine thinketh his paynes recompenſed if your grace or any Chriſtian take profit of it: bicauſe how much ſoeuer is ſpent, his ſtore is neuertheleſſe. And for God, recompenſed he can not be: but how he is continually to be thanked, your graces profeſsion of his worde, your abidyng in the ſame, the godly cō uerſation that I hauehave ſene in you, do proue that your ſelfe do better vnderſtand & practiſe than I can admoniſhe you.
And that you maye be aſſured, that this kinde of medicine is not hurtfull: two moſte excellent kinges, Ezechias and Dauid, beſide an infinite numbre hauehave taſted the lyke before you, and hauehave founde health therin, ſuch healthe as hathe cured them for euer, and not as common or naturall reaſons of Philoſophie doe cure a ſicke or ſoore mynde, which with eaſie and weake not well drawynge or cleanſinge plaſters, ſo ouerheale the wounde that it feſtreth and breaketh oute afreſhe wyth renewed and doublye encreaſed danger.
Suche remedye as here is conteined can no Philoſopher, no Infidele, no Papiſt miniſter. For what perfite helpe can they geue to a dyſeaſed mynde, that vnderſtande not, or beleue not the onelyonly thyng that muſte of nedefull neceſsitie be put into all medicines that maye ſerue for a tourmented ſoule, that is to ſay, the determined prouidence of almyghtie God, whiche ordreth and diſpoſeth all thynges to the beſt to them that truſte in him?
This Phyſicke reſteth onelyonly amonge trewe beleuyng Chriſtians, who are perſwaded that whatſoeuer betideth vntounto vsus, his hie wiſdom that ſent it, and that ſeeth all thynges, ſent it of hys good pleaſure and decreed purpoſe, and that for oure benefite if we louelove and beleue hym, thoughe oure weake vnderſtandynge knoweth not howe it ſhoulde be profitable, but naturally iudgeth it hurtefull and vnpleaſaunt. And neceſſarye it was that he whiche by vnderſtandynge of Godes hatred of ſynne and felynge of hys iuſtice, is ſubiect to fall into the moſte perillous peine and tourment of conflicte with ſinne and desperation, ſhoulde by conceyuynge of Godes mercy, and beleuyng of his prouidence, hauehave helpe of the moſte and onelyonly perfect and effectuallye working medicine.
But in heauye caſe is he, that beynge afflicted with that daūgerous diſeaſe of the felyng of Gods wrath kindled againſt him, hath not the cōſerue of belefe of Gods prouidēce remainyng with him, or beyng miniſtred to him either for febleneſſe of ſtomack can not receiue and brooke it, or his oppreſſed appetite beyng ouerwhelmed with groſſe faithleſſe and papiſticall humors can not abide the taſt of it. Wo is (I ſay) to them: for theyr diſeaſe is daungerous and hard to be cured. For when the wretched man findyng all helpe of man not able to vphold him from periſhing, being ſtriken with the mightie hande of God, feleth him ſelfe vnable to ſtande, no ſoundnes in his bodye, no ſtrēgth in his limmes, no helpe of nature to reſiſt the violence of that diſeaſe that Gods diſpleaſure hath laide vponupon him, ſeeth no ſigne of Gods grace in his ſoule, but the depe woundes that Gods anger hath left in his cōſcience, perceiueth no token to argue him th'elect of God and partaker of the death of his Sauiour, hearyng pronounced that the ſoule which ſinneth ſhall die, knowyng him ſelfe to hauehave ſinned, & felyng him ſelfe dying: alas what helpe remaineth in this extremitie? If we thinke the helpe of papiſtes, to begge and borrowe others Virgins oyle that hauehave none to spare, to bye the ſuperfluous workes of thoſe men that ſay they hauehave done more than ſuffiſeth to ſatisfie Gods lawe and to deſerue theyr owne ſaluation, to appeaſe God with ſuche extraordinarie deuiſed ſeruice as he neuer commaunded, and ſuch like vnholſome ſtuffe as papiſticall ſouleſleaers hauehave miniſtred to Chriſtian patientes: If (I ſay) we thinke theſe good & ſufficient medicines: alas, we do nothinge therby, but plant vntrew ſecuritie, promiſe health, & performe death: the pāges wherof whē the deceiued ſick man feleth, he to late eſpieth the falſhod of the murtherous Phyſiciā. The pore damned ſoule in Hell tourmented with the lamentable peines that turmoile him, from whome God the onelyonly author of ioy and comfort is abſent, perceiueth to late howe wandring the wrong way from heauen, he is fallen into Hell. That ſelly wretche flamyng in the infernall fire feleth, alas, to late that thei which gaue him mans medicines to drincke, hauehave ſlayne his ſoule: they which taught him to truſt of ſaluation by mās deuiſes hauehave ſet his burnyng hert in that place of flames, where th'euerlaſting Chaos ſuffreth no droppe of Godes mercye to deſcende: they which taught him to ſeeke health any other where thā in the determined purpoſe of God, that hath ſent his own ſonne for our redēptiō, hauehave spoiled him of all benefit of redemption. He feleth at length all to late howe by faulte of ill diet and throughe poiſonous potions which his ignoraunt corrupted and traiterous Phyſicion ſuffered him to vſe, and bad him to take, he lieth dead eternally.
But on th'other ſide, when the beleuynge Chriſtian falleth (as God hathe made none to ſtande wherby they ſhould not nede his mercye to raiſe them when they are fallen) he knoweth whither to reache his hande to be raiſed vp againe: beyng ſtong with the ſtinge of the ſcorpion he knoweth howe with oyle of the ſame ſcorpion to be healed agayne: beyng wounded with the iuſtice of God that hateth ſinne, he knoweth howe with the mercy of the ſame God that pardoneth ſinne to hauehave hys peine aſſwaged and hurt amended. He knoweth that whome God hath from eternitie appointed to liue, ſhal neuer die, howſoeuer ſickneſſe threaten: no miſery, no tentation, no perill ſhall auaile to his euerlaſting ouerthrowe. He knoweth that his ſafetie is much more ſurely repoſed in Gods moſte ſtedfaſt and vnchangeable purpoſe, and in the moſt ſtrong & almightye hande of the alknowynge and alworking God, than in the wauering will and feble weaknes of man. This healeth the Chriſtians ſicknes, this preſerueth him from death, this maketh him to liue for euer. This medicine is in this litle boke brought frō the plentifull ſhop & ſtorehouſe of Gods holye teſtamēt, where Gods euer abiding purpoſe frō beyond beginning is ſet fourth, to the euerlaſting ſaluatiō of ſome, & eternall cōfuſion of other. Beſide that, this boke hath not only the medicine, but alſo an example of the nature of the diſeaſe, & the meane how to vſe & apply the medicine to thē that be ſo diſeaſed. For when a man languiſhing in corporall ſicknes, heareth his neighboure reporte vntounto him, or himſelfe hathe before time ſene in an other the ſame cauſe of ſicknes, the ſame maner of fits, paſsiōs, alteratiōs, & in eueryevery point the ſame qualities of ſicknes, & the ſame dispoſitiō of body that he knoweth & feleth in him ſelf: it geueth him aſſurāce, & maketh him to know that he is ſick of the ſame diſeaſe that th'other was: wherby knowing howe th'other was healed, what diet he kept, what Phyſicke he toke, he doeth with the greater boldnes, confidence of mynde, and deſire, call for, taſte, and gredely receyue that healthfull & lifefull medicine wherby he ſaw and knew his neighbour healed, and with the greater care kepeth the ſame diet wherewith he ſaw & knew th'other preſerued. So here this good ſoules Phyſiciā hath brought you where you maye ſe lyinge before youre face the good king Ezechias, ſomtime chillinge and chattering with colde, ſomtime languiſhing & meltyng away with heate, nowe freſing, now fryeng, nowe ſpecheleſſe, nowe crying out, with other ſuche piteous panges & paſsions wrought in his tender afflicted ſpirit, by giltie conſciēce of his owne fault, by terrible conſideration of Gods iuſtice, hy cruell aſſaultes of the tyrannous enemie of mans ſaluation, vexynge hym in muche more lamentable wiſe than any bodely feuer can worke, or bodyly fleſhe can ſuffer. On th'other ſide for his helpe, you ſe him ſometyme throwe vp his gaſtly eyen, ſtarynge wyth horrour, and ſcant diſcernynge for peine and for want of the lyuely moiſture to fede the brightnes of theyr ſight. You ſe him ſometyme yeldyngly ſtretch oute, ſometyme ſtruglinglye throwe his weakned legges not able to ſuſtein his feble body: ſometime he caſteth abrode, or holdeth vp his white & blodles hand toward the place whether his ſoule longeth: ſometyme with fallyng chappes, he breatheth out vnperfect ſoūdes, gaſping rather thā calling for mercy & helpe. Theſe thinges being here laid open to ſight and remainyng in remembraunce, (as the horrour and piteous ſpectacle can not ſuffre it to fall out of a Chriſtian tender minde) if we feele oure ſelues in like anguiſhe, we finde that the diſeaſe is the ſame that Ezechias had, and ſo by conuenience of reaſon muſte by the ſame meane be healed. Thē behoueth vsus to remember or to be infourmed by oure diligent Phyſitian or charitable neighbour, howe we ſawe Ezechias healed, whome we imagine in this Boke to ſee, both dying, reuiued, and walking after health recouered. There we ſe the heauēly Phyſician anoynt him with the merciful Samaritās oyle, purge the oppreſsing humors with true repentaūce, ſtrengthen his ſtomack with the holſome conſerue of Gods eternall decree, and expell his diſeaſe, and ſet hym on foote with aſſured faith of Gods mercy, and ſtaieng his yet vnſtedy pace & foltring legges with the ſwete promyſes of Gods almyghtye goodnes. So learne we what Phyſicians helpe we ſhall vſe: and this medicine beyng offered vsus, we are bolde to take it, bycauſe we knowe it wyll heale vsus. And beyng healed, knowyng and hearyng it confeſſed, that ſinne was the cauſe and nouriſhement of Ezechias diſeaſe, we learne a newe diet, and to fede as Ezechias his Phyſician and oures apointeth, abſteinyng from thinges hurtfull taking things healthfull as he preſcribeth. So doth the Chriſtiā atteine his health, ſo beynge attemed he preſerueth it for euer. And as it is true that ſeconde & returned ſickneſſes by ſurfit or miſdemenour are moſt cruell and daungerous, ſo holdeth he yet this alſo for trueth, that to this Phyſiciā with this medicine, no diſeaſe neuer ſo long rooted, neuer ſo oft retourned, is vncurable. Beyng then thus muche beholden to this Phyſician we muſt nedes confeſſe that we owe vntounto him our life and health, & all that we be or hauehave. And for his faithful miniſter maſter Caluine, I beſeche your grace wyth me, to wiſhe hym Gods benefit of eternall happie life for his rewarde, euen as I wiſhe your grace continuall health of life and ſoule for your preſeruation, not onelyonly for this newe yeare, but alſo for the tyme that ſhall excede all extent of yeares, beſechinge you to accepte bothe my worke and prayer.
Concernyng my tranſlation of this boke, it may pleaſe you to vnderſtand that I hauehave rē dred it ſo nere as I poſsibly might, to the very wordes of his text, and that in ſo plaine Engliſhe as I could expreſſe: Suche as it is, I beſeche your grace to take it good parte.
Your graces humble A. L.