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 he setteth down here first of all, that we must be girt with the Sword girdle of truth, and put on the headpiece of Righteousness. By those two words he meaneth soundness and holiness of life. Therefore whensoever we hear this word Truth, let us understand, that Saint Paul condemneth all hypocrisy, and will have us learn too give our selves too the serving of God with a free hart, not with eye service, nor, as to the sight of the world, but with a pure & right meaning mind. And to know why this Soothfastness, or uprightness, & this soundness is put for a breastplate: it is not now needful too trouble our selves much, as I said afore. For the point that we must bear in mind, is, how Saint Paul showeth us, that if we take the armour which God giveth us, we shall be sure without fail too have victory against all our enemies. Righteousness is matched with it: which is a true rule whereby too walk in the fear of God, and too live with our neighbours without doing any harm, without fraud, without malice, and without extortion, and rather too endeavour too do one another good, according too the end too which our Lord hath knit us together, which is, that we should so communicate with our neighbours, as no man be wedded too his ⟨image 348⟩own profit, but all of us seek the common welfare. And no marvel now though the Devil overcome us easily, and steal upon us all kind of ways v•wares, both Evening and Morning and every minute. For where is this soundness that Saint Paul requireth here first of all? Nay rather every of us flattereth himself, and we think we have done much when we have used a few fair countenances, and not bin utter rebels against God, so as the world cannot upbraid us that we have bin despisers of his majesty. Then if we play not the stark bedlams, but pretend some fair show, & make some gay countenance of religion: too our own seeming we have discharged our duty very well, when notwithstanding the devil in the mean while hath turned us quite away from the soundness and substantialness, whereof Saint Paul speaketh here. In like case is it with Righteousness. For we would fain content God with a little.

Now he setteth downe heere first of all, that wee must bee girt vvith the Svvoord girdle of truth, and put on the headpeece of Ryghtuousnesse. By those twoo woordes he meaneth soundnesse and holynesse of lyfe. Therefore whensoeuer wee heare this woorde Truth, let vs vnderstand, that Saint Paule condemneth all hypocrisie, and will haue vs learne too giue our selues too the seruing of God with a free hart, not with eye seruice, nor, as to the syght of the world, but with a pure & right meaning mind. And to know why this Soothfastnes, or vprightnes, & this soundnesse is put for a brestplate: it is not now needefull too trubble our selues much, as I sayde afore. For the poynt that wee must beare in mynd, is, how Saint Paul shemeth vs, that if wee take the armour which God giueth vs, wee shall bee sure without fayle too haue victorie ageinst all our enemyes. Ryghtuousnesse is matched with it: which is a trew rule whereby too walke in the feare of God, and too lyue with our neyghbours without dooyng any harme, without fraud, without malice, and without extortion, and rather too indeuer too doo one another good, according too the end too which our Lord hath knit vs toogither, which is, that wee should so communicate with our neyghbours, as no man bee wedded too hys