Sermons of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the.X.Commandementes of the Lawe, geuen of God by Moses, otherwise called the Decalogue. Gathered word for word, presently at his sermons, when he preached on Deuteronomie, without adding vnto, or diminishing from them any thing afterward. Translated out of Frenche into English, by I.H.

¶To the Right excellent and Honou∣rable Lorde, the Lorde Robert Dudley, Earle of Leycester, Baron of Denbigh, Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter, Maister of the Queenes Ma∣iesties horses, and one of her Graces most Honourable priuie Coun∣cell, Iohn Harmar wisheth all godlie felicitie, continuance of health, increase of Honour, and Graces eternall.

OCcasioned, Right Honourable, to consider certeine of M. Caluins Sermons in the Frenche tongue, vpon the lawe of God and his hestes, and finding them (though ga∣thered and set forth by o∣thers, yet) aunswerable to their makers labour, to bee godlie, learned, and profitable, I was the bolder to aduenture the deliuerance of them into our mother language, and most bolde to present your Honour therewith: the beginning of small abilitie, such as they bee, yet due to your Lord∣shippe, vnto whom I owe all thankfulnesse and humble duetie. Your Honours good procure∣ment of her Maiesties gratious fauour, whereby I first became a Scholer in Winchester Colledge, afterward to bee remoued to the New Colledge of Oxford, whereof at this present I am a poore member, I could neuer since forget, or burie so good a benefite in such great obliuion. Some sig∣nification

therefore of a gratefull minde is herein sought, together with the profit of many the sim∣pler sorte, which the rather may be atteined to, by your Lordshippes honourable name, fauourable countenance, and protection, which being vouch∣safed, will be sufficientlieable to counteruaile the contrarie endeuours of such euill disposed persons as seeke euen vnder the colour of greatest truth, to pull out the eyes of knowledge, and to bring a palpable darkenesse vpon the face of the earth, a darkenesse to be brought in by the grosse mist of deuout ignoraunce as more perillous, so more la∣mentable than the temporarie darkenesse of Ae∣gypt. For that is the pretence which they vse, when as they seeke no other thing than to entrap men by diuelish Sophistrie. What need the lawe (say they?) We haue the Gospel. What neede we written expositors? We haue the liuelie voices of Preachers sounding in great plentie euerie where. Of which two speaches, the former is vaine, the latter parciall, and both of them are wicked. Truth it is, that the strength and sting of the lawes domi∣nion to condemnation, concerning the faithfull, is weakened and cleane plucked out: that the fire is extinguished wherewith the mountaine smo∣ked, that the stonie tables are softened, that the hea∣uie yoke is lightened, that grace hath superaboun∣ded, and an horne of strong saluation is erected and declared through the administration of the spirite. What then? Shall we therefore welter in sinne, and wallow in the lustes thereof, because of these things? God forbid. Nay rather, as the lawe

schooleth vs, to seeke for grace at the bodie of Christ, so the gratious Christian is taught to re∣paire againe to the booke of the lawe, to liue ther∣after: in deede now, without seruile feare, being deliuered from bondage, to serue in freedome of an vpright, holie, and sincere conscience. But as the Bee that hath in her honie, hath also a sting: so the best men indued with the grace of GOD, a thing incomparablie better than honie, haue not∣withstanding certeine remnantes of the staine of Adam, as a sting of corruption to their mortall bodies. Whereof to put vs in mind, that we may plucke out this sting, and as it were weed the gar∣den of our consciences (who as the purest ground, yet bring forth some weedes of imperfection:) the lawe of God is most behoouefull and necessarie, and M. Caluins trauelles thereon, most fruitefull and profitable, who striketh euer at the originall and roote of sinne, and bringeth the commande∣ment to his olde, first, and true meaning, from the corrupt and common vnderstanding. For hee groundeth the exposition of the law, vpon the na∣ture of the Lawgiuer, who, because he is a spirit, will be serued in spirit and truth. And because he searcheth the reines, & soundeth the depth of the heart, will be serued with euerie affection and mo∣tion thereof, in all holinesse and sinceritie: so that no man can safelie feede or flatter himselfe in the smallest of his owne faultes or follics. And now, what need there is of this knowledge in England, all men see, and others can better saie, than my selfe declare, how thinlie, scant here and there, such ex∣cellent

vnderstanding groweth. Which thing in more wordes to lament, were an ouerlong detei∣ning of your Lordship from your greater af∣faires. The Lord of Lordes, and God al∣mightie garde you euer, and guide you with his holie spirit, to the benefite and commoditie of our coun∣trie, and to the profite of his Church, with increase of honour, to his ho∣nour alwayes.

Your humble to commaund▪ Iohn Harmar.