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…

Wherefore let us mark well that Saint Paul having so advanced the power of the devil, showeth us from whence all of it proceedeth, and what is the wellspring of it, too the intent we should not think that the devil hath the reins of the bridle loose on his neck, so as he should be able too do what he listeth, and God unable too let him. Too the intent then that we should not imagine that Gods sovereign dominion is abated by any power of the devils: Saint Paul saith, that their power proceedeth of this, that this world is in darkness. True it is that the Sun shineth upon us, and the Moon also: but yet for all that, we cease not too be plunged in the dungeon of death, and too be blind wretches, because we be banished from the light of life which is in God. Inasmuch then as we be destitute of the knowledge of him that made and fashioned all things, and have our wits entangled in all naughtiness, and our reason is utterly perverted: therefore doth Satan reign over us. And so the question is dissolved which might have bin demanded, ⟨image 346⟩namely how the devils are named the princes of the air, and have such scope in this world which God hath created. That cometh not of the original order of nature, (as I have declared already) but of the corruption that is happened through the fall of man: Howsoever the case stand, the devils have such power over us, as we could not tell how to withstand them, unless God were both our shield and our wall, and served our turn at all assays, yea and fought for us at such time as we can do nothing at all. I say, we must mark well that, and also beat down the foolish presumption which is so rooted in our harts, as it is right hard for us too weed it out. For we see how men do always vaunt themselves, and would make themselves as Idols. But how speaks the scripture of them? It calleth them the devils slaves. So long then as we have not Jesus Christ for our king, and his seat is unset up among us by reason of Adams fall: the devil must needs be our Prince, and have all authority over us, and we be subject unto him. Now let men make as great bravery as they list, and challenge this and that too themselves: and yet notwithstanding, the thing that the holy Ghost hath spoken, must continue soothfast.

Wherfore let vs marke well that Saint Paule hauing so aduaunced the power of the diuell, sheweth vs from whence all of it proceedeth, and what is the welspring of it, too the intent wee should not thinke that the diuell hath the reynes of the brydle looce on his necke, so as hee should bee able too doo what he listeth, and God vnable too let him. Too the intent then that wee should not imagin that Gods souerein dominion is abated by any power of the diuelles: Saint Paule sayth, that their power proceedeth of this, that this world is in darkenesse. Trew it is that the Sunne shyneth vppon vs, and the Moone also: but yit for all that, wee ceasse not too bee plunged in the dungeon of death, and too bee blynd wretches, bycause wee bee banished from the lyght of lyfe which is in God. Inasmuch then as wee bee destitute of the knowledge of him that made and fashyoned all things, and haue our wittes intangled in all naughinesse, and our reason is vtterly peruerted: therefore dooth Satan reigne ouer vs. And so the question is dissolued which myght haue bin demaunded,