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…

This saying seemeth strange at the first blush, when S. Paul willeth us too work our salvation. For is that in us? (No:) But he correcteth that which might be conceived through presumption and overweening, by saying that it must be done with trembling, and that we must walk in fear: that is too say, we must distrust our selves, yea and be utterly abashed, assuring our selves that we cannot stir one of our little ••ngers, no nor think one good thought (as he sayeth in another place:¹) except God give it us from above. And afterward (which confirmeth this matter yet better) he addeth for a conclusion, that God giveth both the will and the performance of the will. Then is it God that doeth all, and yet cease not we too do also: yea, but that is by him, and of him, as I have declared already. Too be short, the holy Scripture sayeth, not that God doth renew us, and that when we be begotten again by his holy spirit, we begin too have a good mind and too be well inclined: too the intent we should be slothful and idle, but too the intent that God should be glorified, and we not imagine our selves too be the workers of our own salvation, but yield him the honour of all the good that he hath put into us. Howsoever the world go, yet must we be watchful, that is too say, we must keep good watch against the devil, and endeavour too give our selves too goodness, so as every of us enforce our selves, for we must imprison our own wit, and wicked will too make them obedient too ⟨p. 323⟩God: but yet must all be acknowledged too be of him.

This saying seemeth straunge at the first blush, when S. Paule wylleth vs too woorke our saluation. For is that in vs? (No:) But he correcteth that which myght bee conceyued through presumption and ouerweening, by saying that it must bee done with trembling, and that wee must walke in feare: that is too say, wee must distrust our selues, yea and bee vtterly abashed, assuring our selues that wee cannot stirre one of our little ••ngers, no nor thinke one good thought (as he sayeth in another place:¹) except God giue it vs from aboue. And afterward (which confirmeth this matter yit better) he addeth for a conclusion, that God giueth both the wyll and the performance of the wyll. Then is it God that dooeth all, and yit ceasse not wee too doo also: yea, but that is by him, and of him, as I haue declared already. Too bee short, the holy Scripture sayeth, not that God doth renew vs, and that when wee bee begotten agein by his holy spirit, wee begin too haue a good mynd and too bee well inclyned: too the intent wee should bee slothfull and ydle, but too the intent that God should bee glorifyed, and wee not imagin our selues too bee the woorkers of our owne saluation, but yeeld him the honour of all the good that he hath put intoo vs. Howsoeuer the world go, yit must wee bee watchfull, that is too saye, wee must keepe good watch ageinst the diuell, and indeuer too giue our selues too goodnesse, so as euery of vs inforce our selues, for wee must imprizon our owne wit, and wicked will too make them obedient too