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 hereupon it is easy too gather, how the wretched world hath bin beguiled by the opinion of freewill, which hath bin put into their heads. For the Papists will well enough grant, that without Gods grace we cannot walk as we ought to do: but yet they say therewithal, that we may well further Gods grace by our own freewill: & so they make a medley of them together. When they mind to define freewill, they say it is a mingled thing, so as we have reason and wit too choose the good, and too refuse the evil, and that therewithal we have also power and ability, to perform and put in execution the thing that we have purposed. But we see after what manner S. Paul speaketh here of mamies reason, which they term the Queen that overruleth and bridleth all our thoughts and deeds. He showeth that she is stark blind, until God have renewed her, and not that he doth but supply our wants where any be, as though there were some piece of power in us. Had it bin so, S. Paul would have said, that God furthereth our light, or that he increaseth it, or that he addeth too it whatsoever it hath need of. Howbeit he speaketh not so: but he sayeth, God give you enlightened eyes: showing thereby that it is a free gift, & not only that our Lord must be fain too bear with our infirmities, and too put some further portion thereunto: but also that we being blind can see nothing at all, till he have opened our eyes, and that we be guided and governed by the said manifestation of his holy spirit, which we have touched heretofore. And now forasmuch as men run always flinging over the fields, & busy their heads about many unprofitable things: S. Paul showeth us whereto we ought too apply all wholly both our understanding & wit, namely about the seeking how too know what the hope of our calling is. I have told you already, that men are as ye would say, borne to curiosity, and that they rove & range, and frame many wicked gazes (in their heads:) & that is the cause why many men do martyr themselves out of measure,¹ ever learning, a•d never attaining too the knowledge of the truth, as sayeth S. Paul. Therefore let us mark well, that all the true knowledge which we must seek, is too attain to the hope whereunto God hath called us. For the scripture serveth not too feed us with vain and superfluous things: but too edify us too our welfare:

Now hereupon it is easye too gather, how the wretched world hath bin beguyled by the opinion of freewill, which hath bin put into their heades. For the Papistes will wel ynough graunt, that without Gods grace we cannot walk as we ought to doo: but yit they say therwithal, that we may well further Gods grace by our owne freewill: & so they make a medly of thē togither. Whē they mynd to defyne freewill, they say it is a mingled thing, so as wee haue reason and wit too chooze the good, and too refuze the euill, and that therwithall we haue also power and abilitie, to performe and put in execution the thing that wee haue purposed. But wee see after what manner S. Paule speaketh heere of mamies reason, which they terme the Queene that ouerruleth and brydleth all our thoughtes and deedes. He sheweth that shee is starke blynd, vntill God haue renewed hir, and not that he dooth but supply our wantes where any bee, as though there were some peece of power in vs. Had it bin so, S. Paule would haue sayd, that God furthereth our light, or that he increaseth it, or that he addeth too it whatsoeuer it hath neede of. Howbeit he speaketh not so: but he sayeth, God giue you inlyghtened eyes: shewing therby that it is a free gift, & not only that our Lord must bee fayne too beare with our infirmities, and too put some further portion theruntooo: but also that we being blynd can see nothing at all, till he haue opened our eyes, and that wee bee guyded and gouerned by the sayd manifestation of his holy spirit, which wee haue touched heertoofore. And now forasmuch as men runne alwayes flinging ouer the feeldes, & buzie their heades about many vnprofitable things: S. Paule sheweth vs wherto we ought too apply all wholy both our vnderstāding & wit, namely about the seeking how too knowe what the hope of our calling is. I haue told you alreadye, that men are as yee would say, borne to curiositie, and that they roue & raunge, and frame many wicked gazes (in their heades:) & that is the cause why many men doo martir themselues out of measure,