Divers sermons of Master John Calvin, concerning the divinity, humanity, and nativity of our…Diuers sermons of Master Iohn Caluin, concerning the diuinitie, humanitie, and natiuitie of our…

And therefore let no man brag of himself, no not an inch, to be just before God, & to over slipped the remedy whereof I even now spake: for he that is the perfectest in the ⟨p. 113⟩judgement of men, shall be found guilty before the majesty of god, We see here then the meaning of the Prophet: howbeit he is not for all that, thus contented, but saith, That every man is declined from his way. But why repeateth he the saying, of all, to every one. Forsooth, I will tell you, because, when as we are generally condemned, we are not so lively moved and touched as we ought to be. In deed, this must needs be a plain condemnation, whenas it is said, that there is not amongst the children of men, one just man:¹ and is also said, in another place of the Psalmist, That God looked down from heaven, & saw not one man that was not corrupt in his sins. He speaketh also there aswell of the godly who were in great estimation and dignity, as also of the wicked. It is said that all men have gone astray, and that there could not be found one who was not corrupt before the Lord: and of this doctrine, the holy Scripture is full:² Saint Paul also showeth this very sufficiently in his Epistle to the Romans, whenas he bringeth in the sayings of the Psalmist and of the Prophets, where any thing is spoken of infamous men, saying, That there is nothing but malice and treason in them, full of cruelty, poison, violence, deceit and robbery, and their throat an open Sepulchre. When all these things are spoken of, Saint Paul saith, that all men are herein comprehended without exception, until such time as GOD hath changed and renewed them by his holy Spirit.

And therefore let no mā brag of himselfe, no not an inch, to be iust before God, & to ouer slipt ye remedy wherof I euē now spake: for he yt is ye perfectest in ye ⟨p. 113⟩iudgemēt of men, shalbe foūd guiltie before the maiestie of god, We sée héere then the meaning of the Prophet: howbeit he is not for al that, thus contented, but saith, That euery man is declined from his way. But why repeateth he the saying, of al, to euery one. Forsooth, I will tell you, because, when as wee are generally condemned, we are not so liuely moued and touched as we ought to be. In déede, this must néedes bée a plaine condemnation, whenas it is saide, that there is not amongst the children of men, one iust man: