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…

In deed we will confess well enough with the mouth, that it is reason that God should be served and honoured, and that we should live quietly together, and endeavour too do one another good. We will condemn Robbery, Extortion, Whoredom, Deceit, and wrong Dealing: but yet when all is done, we would have God too accept in good worth, the little that he findeth in us, and too hold him contented with it. But by that mean, behold, the devil findeth us still unprovided. Forasmuch then as we open him such a gap, we must not marvel that he getteth the better hand of us. And therefore it were much better for us too go through with our race, and too stick too our tackling that we stand fast. For a man shall see diverse that have a good zeal, as far as can be judged: and yet it shall be but a blast, it will not continue. And why? Because we be not fenced against Satan. And for proof hereof, if we follow the thing that is showed us here: it is certain that the promise will never deceive us. For although Saint Paul exhort the faithful too stand fast, and too hold out too the end: yet is there a certain warrantise included therein, that God will always succour them at their need, and that they shall not find themselves disappointed, so they fight still under his banner, calling continually upon his power, and using the means that are offered them by his word. Therefore if there be such cowardliness in us as too be so afraid of the devil, that he makes us too tumble down, and to start aside, and too stray quite out of the good way: we must impute all too our own recklessness, because we have not put on the armour that ⟨p. 330⟩God giveth us, but have hanged them up upon a pin.

In deede wee will confesse well ynough with the mouth, that it is reason that God should bee serued and honoured, and that wee should lyue quietly toogither, and indeuer too doo one another good. Wee will condemne Robberie, Extortion, Whoredome, Deceyt, and wrong Dealing: but yit when all is doone, wee would haue God too accept in good woorth, the little that he fyndeth in vs, and too hold him contented with it. But by that meane, behold, the diuell fyndeth vs still vnprouyded. Forasmuch then as wee open him such a gap, wee must not maruell that he getteth the better hand of vs. And therefore it were much better for vs too go through with our race, and too sticke too our tackeling that wee stand fast. For a man shall see dyuerse that haue a good zeale, as farre as can bee iudged: and yit it shall bee but a blast, it will not continue. And why? Bycause wee bee not fenced ageinst Satan. And for proofe hereof, if wee followe the thing that is shewed vs heere: it is certeyne that the promis wyll neuer deceyue vs. For although Saint Paule exhort the faythfull too stand fast, and too hold out too the ende: yit is there a certein warrantyze included therin, that God wyll alwayes succour them at their neede, and that they shall not fynd themselues disappoynted, so they fyght styll vnder his banner, calling continually vppon his power, and vsing the meanes that are offered them by his word. Therfore if there bee such cowardlynesse in vs as too be so afrayd of the diuell, that he makes vs too tumble downe, and to start asyde, and too stray quyte out of the good way: wee must impute all too our owne rechlesnesse, bycause wee haue not put on the armour that