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…

And again he amplifieth it yet better, saying, that our fighting is not only against flesh and blood: but (also) against the powers, and principalities of the air, against the Lords of the world, and against wicked Spirits, which fight from heaven against us: Commonly when we have too do with an enemy that is not greatly able too annoy us, so as we fear not that he can do us any harm: we despise him, and that is oftentimes a cause, that such as ye would esteem too be the valiantest in the world do come short home. And why: Because they despised their enemy. But Saint Paul telleth us, we have to do with other manner of wights than mortal men: and yet we fear them not. If a man hate us, although he be not of any great ability: Yet have we a flea in our ear (as they say) and we think it wisdom too prevent the things that our enemy can practise against us. But specially if our enemies be mighty and strong, and we unable too stand against them, and too repulse them: then are ⟨p. 325⟩we as much amazed as may be, & yet they be but mortal men as we be. Howbeit S. Paul tells us, we have not to fight against mortal men, but against enemies that do far pass them. And for that cause doth he call them powers and principalities, giving them authority as though they had the over hand of us already. If we were too fight with an enemy that were over our head, it would trouble us curstly. Now such are the devils: they have that advantage of us: for they be named even Kings of this world: and besides that, they have a thousand wiles and policies. And therefore it is said, that they not only assail us with force, but also lay so many stales and ambushes too entrap us, as we could not scape them, if we stood not upon our guard. Here it standeth us on hand too be throughly waked, though we were not only asleep, but also as it were in a swoon. Yet notwithstanding, this warning doth little boot us: for we see how cold we be in buskling our selves to the battle. Saint Peter telleth us the like,¹ though he use not the same words. For in saying that the devil is as a roaring Lyon, going about and seeking some pray to devour, so as he will swallow us up •ut of hand, if we be not waking: he showeth us that it is not for us too be reckless and out of fear, but rather too stick well too our talking.

And agein he amplyfyeth it yit better, saying, that our fyghting is not only ageinst flesh and blud: but (also) ageinst the powers, and principalties of the aire, ageinst the Lords of the world, and ageinst wicked Spirits, which fyght from heauen ageinst vs: Commonly when wee haue too doo with an enemy that is not greatly able too anoy vs, so as wee feare not that he can doo vs any harme: wee despyze him, and that is oftentymes a cause, that such as yee would esteeme too bee the valeantest in the world doo come short home. And why: Bycause they despyzed their enemye. But Saint Paule telleth vs, we haue to do with other maner of wyghts than mortall men: and yit wee feare them not. If a man hate vs, although he bee not of any great abilitie: Yit haue wee a flea in our eare (as they say) and wee think it wisdome too preuent the things that our enemie can practyze ageinst vs. But specially if our enemyes be myghtie and strong, and wee vnable too stand ageinst them, and too repulse them: then are