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…

Thus you see what the spiritual life of man is, and where it lieth: that is too wit, in the light of Gods word, and in the working of his holy spirit, so as we be new fashioned again according too the image that was lost, and utterly defaced in us by Adams sin. And is that too be found among worldly men? Yea even among those that are most honoured? No surely. Then is it not without cause that our Lord Jesus useth this similitude, saying, that we be raised from death by means of the Gospel. For flourish we never so much, bear we never so fair a gloss before men, and seem we too have never so much wherefore too be had in estimation: yet are we but wretched carrions, there is nothing but rottenness and filthiness in us, God loatheth us, we be damned and forlorn before him, the Angels abhor us, all creatures curse and ban us, and all things ask vengeance upon us, because we defile them. For there is such corruption in man, that heaven and earth must be infected with it, until God have changed them.¹ The thing then which our Lord Jesus Christs saying importeth, is, that until we be renewed by the Gospel through the faith that proceedeth of it: we be but as dead men, there is not one drop of life in us that deserveth the name of life. And too be short we be as good as buried in our graves, and must be fain to go out of them ⟨image 78⟩again, whereby we be done too understand, that we be cut of from Gods kingdom, and consequently that there is nothing but filth in us: and yet notwithstanding that God vouchsafeth too be knit and united unto such as put their trust in him and in his goodness. That (say I) is our rising again. Too be short, we must always consider, that man bringeth death with him even with his birth: not only because he is mortal, but also because he is separated from God. We be mortal wights, and it were but in respect that we must needs pass through this world, and depart thence whensoever it pleaseth God: but we be also dead afore hand. And how is that? Because our souls are altogether sinful.² There is neither thought nor affection in us, which tendeth not too evil: all is repugnant or rebellious against God, and against the rule of his righteousness.

Thus you see what the spirituall lyfe of man is, and where it lyeth: that is too wit, in the lyght of Gods woord, and in the woorking of his holie spirit, so as wee be new fashyoned agein according too the image that was lost, and vtterly defaced in vs by Adams sin. And is that too bee found among worldly men? Yea euen among those that are most honored? No surely. Then is it not without cause that our Lord Iesus vseth this similitude, saying, that wee bee raysed from death by meanes of the Gospell. For florish wee neuer so much, beare wee neuer so fayer a glosse before men, and seeme wee too haue neuer so much wherfore too bee had in estimation: yit are wee but wretched carions, there is nothing but rottennesse and filthinesse in vs, God lotheth vs, wee bee damned and forlorne before him, the Angells abhorre vs, all creatures curse and ban vs, and all things aske vengeance vppon vs, bycause wee defyle them. For there is such corruption in man, that heauen and earth must bee infected with it, vntill God haue chaunged them.