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…

Furthermore, as I have told you, that we must draw all our holiness from out of Jesus Christ, in whom we shall find all the fullness and plenty of it: so also let us understand, that by that saying we be warned, that we be not called too filthiness, too take leave too do evil: but too be as it were shoaled out too the service of God. Most men can well enough brag that they be faithful, and that word runs roundly upon every mans tongue: but faith is a preciouser thing than we think: for it […] our harts (as it is said in the fifteenth of the Acts) too the intent we should be as it were shoaled out and set a side,¹ too give our selves wholly too Gods service. But hereby it is meant, that men are as it were of a corrupt and infected lump, till God have drawn out the one so•t from the other. Then differ we nothing at all from •hem that are as deeply plunged as is possible, in all manner of evil and wickedness. We be all alike (say I) as touching our nature. But they that believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, must be as it were •orted out from the rest of the world, as S. Peter also sayeth in his first Epistle. Again, we have seen heretofore, that we be cleansed by the b•ud of Jesus Christ, too the intent too be drawn out of this world,² according also as he sayeth in S. John, where he prayeth too ⟨image 65⟩his father, not too take us out of this world, and out of this transitory life, but too keep the naughtiness of the world from bearing rule in us, and too exempt us from it. Ye see then that the thing which we have too bear in mind, is that holiness is the true record of ou• faith. And therefore whosoever is called a Christian, ought too fee consecrated unto God, and not too intermeddle or defile himself with the uncleanness and filthiness of the world. True it is that our holiness shall never be perfect, so long as we be in this world: for we do always draw the lines too us, and although sin over master us not, yet doth it dwell in us, and we keep continual battle against it, to get the upper hand. But howsoever the world go, yet when God once hath sanctified us, we must apply our selves to his service, we must endeavour too cleanse our selves more and more from all vices, and we must give our selves wholly unto him, so as we be no more as worldlings, which take leave too do what they list.