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…

I Showed you this morning, why Saint Paul speaketh here of the force and crafts of Satan, that is too wit, to wake us, that we be not taken unawares, as it happeneth oftentimes. Therefore it standeth us on hand too know, with what manner of enemy we have too do, that the same may stir us up too resist him. True it is that at the first we might be abashed, by comparing our own weakness ⟨image 345⟩with the practises and preparations of Satan, whereof mention is made here. But the remedy thereof is set down therewithal, as I have touched already, and as Saint Paul proceedeth too show yet more at length. Therefore he sayeth first, that the encounter which we have too deal in, is much more hard and daungerfull, than if all the men in the world did set themselves against us. For the force of Satan is above them all. And that is the cause why he sayeth, that our fighting is not against flesh and blood. By these words he doth us too understand, that we have not too stand against mortal men only. It is true that men shall oftentimes bid us battle, yea and they shall be Satan's underlings too torment us. But that is not the thing that we must stick at. For the devil serves his turn by them too drive us too despair, or too provoke us too revengement, and too make us grudge against God. Howsoever the case stand, the wicked do never trouble us, but they be egged too it by another, that is too say, by Satan, who ruleth them, and is their head, and setteth them a work, too the ends aforesaid. Therefore if we stick upon men, we forget the principal, after the manner of Dogs, who if a man do cast a stone at them, fall too biting of the stone too wreak themselves, and regard not the hand that threw it. Even so are we unpurveyed of wit, when we think our striving is but only with men, and in the mean while think not upon our invisible enemy. Wherefore let us bethink us well of the thing that Saint Paul tells us here, namely that Satan is the chief enemy that we have, yea and that it is he whom we must withstand: and although he use diverse means to vex us, and to turn us away from the fear of God: yet must we always have our eye upon him, that we may beware of him.

I Shewed you this morning, why Saint Paule speaketh heere of the force and craftes of Satan, that is too wit, to wake vs, that wee bee not taken vnwares, as it happeneth oftentymes. Therefore it standeth vs on hand too knowe, with what manner of enemye wee haue too doo, that the same may stirre vs vp too resist him. Trew it is that at the first wee myght bee abashed, by comparing our owne weaknesse