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…

Now then we see what diversity there is between the doctrine of the Papists, and the doctrine that we follow, which is grounded upon the holy Scripture. For these blind wretches say, they can work wonders by their freewill. In deed they will give some little snippet unto God, saying, that he supplieth their wants, because they be inclined too evil and too vice, but that they be restrained by him. God therefore is as a pretty fellow too help them at a dead lift: but in the mean while it is their own freewill, and their natural power that bears all the sway. But when they have made the uttermost of their own strength: yet do men dwell always in doubt, & if they happen to hold their own one hour, by and by they stumble, and can never get up again. But contrariwise we hold opinion, that man must be utterly beaten down (as we be taught by the holy Ghost,) so as we may not have one drop of power resident in our selves, but be utterly emptied. Are we once at that point? Our Lord showeth us the remedy. If we repair too him, and acknowledge our wants, and be ready too beg, so as we have our mouths open, and be not pu•t up with mind, but (rather) utterly empty: then doth our Lord assure us, that he will not fail us, and we shall have whereof too presume, howbeit not after the manner of the Papists, who make their brags• and afterward come short (of their reckoning,) and are put too utter shame. On our part, when we have acknowledged that nothing we be, nor nothing can do, we resort unto God, too glory against Satan, and against all the assaults that he giveth upon us, and against all the munitions of hell, and against all the impediments and temptations in the world. Thus ye see how we ought too put this lesson of Saint Pauls in ure.

Now then wee see what diuersitie there is betweene the doctrine of the Papistes, and the doctrine that we follow, which is grounded vppon the holy Scripture. For these blynd wretches say, they can woorke woonders by their freewill. In deede they will giue some little snippet vntoo God, saying, that he supplyeth their wantes, bycause they bee inclined too euill and too vyce, but that they bee restreyned by him. God therefore is as a pretie fellowe too help them at a dead lift: but in the meane whyle it is their owne freewill, and their naturall power that beares all the sway. But when they haue made the vttermost of their owne strength: yit doo men dwell alwayes in doubt, & if they happē to hold their own one houre, by and by they slumble, and can neuer get vp agein. But contrariwyse wee hold opinion, that man must bee vtterly beaten downe (as wee bee taught by the holy Ghost,) so as wee may not haue one drop of power resident in our selues, but bee vtterly emptied. Are wee once at that poynt? Our Lord sheweth vs the remedye. If wee repayre too him, and acknowledge our wantes, and bee redy too beg, so as wee haue our mouthes open, and bee not put vp with mynd, but (rather) vtterly emptye: then dooth our Lord assure vs, that he will not fayle vs, and wee shall haue whereof too presume, howbeeit not after the manner of the Papistes, who make their brags and aferwarde come short (of theyr reckening,) and are put too vtter shame. On our part, when wee haue acknowledged that nothing wee bee, nor nothing can doo, wee resort vntoo God, too glory ageinst Satan, and ageinst all the assaultes that he giueth vppon vs, and ageinst all the munitions of hel, and ageinst all the impedimentes and temptations in the worlde. Thus yee see how wee ought too put this lesson of Saint Paules in vre.