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…

Moreover, when he saith, That every man hath departed from his way, he declareth in the first place that he speaketh of those men, who are governed by their lusts, and according to their own reason and wisdom. And this is a point to be throughly marked of us, because we see the folly of some to be such, as that all the persuasions in the world cannot withdraw them from running into destruction, by doing of that which seemeth best in their own eyes: The other sort, do so beastly follow their desires, as that they understand not that they plunge themselves wittingly into the bottom of Hell, except god restrained them. For we see how the Papists at this day deal, whenas they are found fault with, by the word of God, & are convinced thereby. I beseech you sir, will they say, let me alone, for be as be may, I will be sure to go on that course which I have begun. And wilt thou so? why then thou surely goest the direct way to hell: for this is thy way, if thou follow it thy course. Ho, tush, why man, I have such a good devotion, as that it is impossible for God to reject it. Well sir, but the Prophet Isaiah speaketh also here of the devotion, which every man maketh to himself: & thinkest thou that the holy ghost who spake in those days by his mouth, knew not that thou ⟨p. 114⟩wouldst be an hypocrite, full of poison & pride: that thou wouldest be ruled as thou lustest: that thou wouldst devise a service of god at thy own pleasure: that thou wouldst worship idols, & think thou diddest well: & that therein should stand thy religion, hath the holy ghost understood all thy villainies? Then look thou to that which he hath spoken, Every man hath walked in his own way, to wit, every man hath gone the strait way to hell. Every man hath run into destruction, by taking his own course. Here then we see what the ways are that we take. And so, we are taught by this place to cast of all fond arrogance, & to understand, that when we do that which seemeth good in our own eyes, & which we think to be very reasonable, it is as if we had made a league with Satan to catch us in his snares. And therefore this doctrine serveth for the correction of all presumption, to the end we might be contented to be ruled only by spirit of God, & by his word:

Moreouer, when hee saith, That euery man hath departed from his way, hee declareth in the first place that he speaketh of those mē, who are gouerned by their lustes, and according to their owne reason and wisdome. And this is a point to be throughly marked of vs, because we sée the folly of some to be such, as that all the persuasions in the worlde cannot withdrawe them from running into destruction, by doing of that which séemeth best in their owne eyes: The other sort, doe so beastly follow their desires, as that they vnderstand not that they plunge themselues wittingly into the bottome of Hell, except god restrained them. For we sée how the Papists at this day deale, whenas they are found fault with, by the word of God, & are conuinced therby. I beséech you sir, wil they say, let me alone, for be as be may, I will be sure to go on that course which I haue begunne. And wilt thou so? why then thou surely goest the direct way to hel: for this is thy way, if thou folow yt thy course. Ho, tush, why man, I haue such a good deuotiō, as yt it is impossible for God to reiect it. Wel sir, but the Prophet Isaiah speaketh also héere of the deuotiō, which euery man maketh to himself: & thinkest thou that the holy ghost who spake in those daies by his mouth, knew not that thou