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…

There is also the word Preparation, whereby Saint Paul doeth us too understand, that if we have the skill too advantage our selves by the Gospel, we shall be rid of all things that let us, and hinder us from coming unto God. What is it then that we find there? It is, that whereas erst we were as it we fallen asleep, or rather doted in our pleasures and vanities: our Lord disposeth us too come unto him. We have seen already that all this world is in darkness, and that as long as we abide in it, we be as it were asleep, so as we see no way before us, and do but reel and stumble, or rather lye along in it as dead men,¹ (as it is said in Isaiah): and if we be not rescued by our our Lord Jesus Christ, we must lye snorting in it still, and wel•er ever in that darkness. Wherefore let us learn too put our ⟨image 349⟩selves in such readiness, as our loins may be girded up (as sayeth our Lord Jesus Christ,²) and our lamps be burning in our hands, that we may see the way by the light that is given us in our Lord Jesus Christ, who not without cause is named the light of the world. Again,³ let us withdraw our selves from this spiritual drunkenness, which turneth the unbelievers away from the kingdom of heaven, and holdeth them down here beneath, until they be come unto final destruction. Therefore let us mark well that we cannot profit well by the Gospel, until we be put in readiness, that is too say, until (as need is) we be weeded out from all these things here below, and our Lord have so disposed us too him self, as our only travel may be too come always forwarder and nearer unto him, until we be gone out of this world, and be also quite rid and set loose from all the bonds of Satan, and from all the means that he hath too hinder us. If we know this once, we shall have profited well for one day.

There is also the woord Preparation, wherby Saint Paule dooeth vs too vnderstand, that if wee haue the skill too aduauntage our selues by the Gospell, wee shal bee rid of all thinges that let vs, and hinder vs from comming vntoo God. What is it then that wee fynd there? It is, that wheras erst wee were as it wee falen asleepe, or rather doted in our pleasures and vanities: our Lord dispozeth vs too come vntoo him. Wee haue seene already that all this world is in darknesse, and that as long as wee abyde in it, wee bee as it were asleepe, so as wee see no way before vs, and doo but reele and stumble, or rather lye along in it as dead men,