The sermons of M. John Calvin, upon the Epistle of S. Paul too the…The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin, vpon the Epistle of S. Paule too the…

that is too say, whereas most men do welter in their sins, and think themselves discharged because their thoughts and affections are so rebellious against the righteousness of God: you knowing all the same miseries must mislike of your selves for them, and seek the remedy of them. And what is that? Strengthen your selves: that is too say, we must enforce our selves: As if he should say, It is a hard thing too walk aright: for we shall have as many impediments as may be. The devil will not cease too seek all means possible too thrust us out of the way, and we shall have store of oppressions and vexations, for he hath slights enow and too many, and besides that, he assaileth us now after one manner, and now after another, and we have not wherewith too resist him. Therefore it behoveth us too get strength too us.

that is too say, wheras most men doo welter in their sinnes, and think themselues discharged by••use their thoughts and affections are so rebellious ageinst the ryghtuousnesse of God: you knowing all the same miseries must mislyke of your selues for them, and seeke the remedie of them. And what is that? Strengthen your selues: that is too say, wee must inforce our selues: As if hee should say, It is a hard thing too walk aryght: for wee shall haue as many impediments as may be. The diuell wil not ceasse too seeke all meanes possible too thrust vs out of the way, and wee shall haue store of oppressions and vexations, for he hath slyghtes ynow and too many, and besyds that, he assayleth vs now after one maner, and now after another, and we haue not wherwith too resist him. Therfore it behoueth vs too get strength too vs.

Howbeit, he saith, in the Lord, least men should imagine themselves able too furnish out the matter with their own freewill, and with their own cunning. Therefore, Be ye strong in the Lord (sayeth he) yea and in the mightiness of his power. When he doeth us too wit, that God will utter such power, as we shall not need to doubt of victory against all that the devil can practise, so we be not reckless, ne fall asleep. Wherefore let us call upon God, that he may help us and succour us at our need. So then, let these two things go together with us: that is too wit, first wakefulness, and such care as the faithful should have too strengthen themselves: and on the other side, hearty desirousness too call upon God. And this is a text well worthy too be marked, as which containeth a great matter in few words. For first we see that we must not be slothful if we covet too rule our life according too Gods will, but forasmuch as every man beareth with him self, and we desire nothing but too shake of all care, and too cast the things at our backs (as they say) which might trouble us: too the end we be not so nice,