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…

So then, let us always run back to the wells head, whensoever we be tempted too glory in our own virtues, and imagine our selves too have I wot not what too advance us withal: let us resort too our natural state, let us consider that we had bin undone, and that we were undone yet still at this day, if God of his infinite mercy had not drawn us out of the confusion wherein we were, and delivered us from it by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ. And it is purposely said in offences and sins: too stop all mens mouths, that no man might make proffer too withdraw himself from the common array, nor think that any thing is so grievous as the corruption of our nature, which cannot be stayed but by death. It S. Paul had set down but one of the words, either offences or sins: by and by there would have bin answering and replying. For some would have thought themselves too have bin of the common array. And other some would have said, Very well, though there be some sin in us, though there be some fault in us, it doth not therefore follow, that we be utterly condemned and cursed of God: for will he use such rigour and extremity against us? But S. Paul hath joined both the words together, too show that there is nothing in our nature, but all wickedness and sin: and at a word, that there is not one drop of life too be found in it. Therefore it is all one, as though he meant too aggravate or make the thing heinous, which men on their part would make light. For if we have never so small a portion of virtue, yea, or but a shadow of it: we will needs exalt it above all the mountains of the world. But if there be any vices in us, though they be never so gross and apparent, yet we make but very light faults of them. Therefore it stood S. Paul on hand too beat down this fond presumptuousness of men, and too show them that they be wholly sopped in sin. For although he speak here too the Ephesians, yet speaketh he generally too all men. And in good sooth, he expresseth it yet better, in saying, that we walked according too the trade of the world: for the evil lurketh unespied, till it bewray it self by his fruits.

So then, let vs alwayes runne backe to the welles head, whensoeuer we be tempted too glory in our owne vertewes, and imagin our selues too haue I wote not what too aduaunce vs withall: let vs resort too our naturall state, let vs consider that wee had bin vndoone, and that wee were vndoone yit still at this day, if God of his infinite mercy had not drawen vs out of the confuzion wherin wee were, and deliuered vs from it by the meanes of our Lord Iesus Christ. And it is purposely sayd in offences and sinnes: too stoppe all mennes mouthes, that no man myght make profer too withdrawe himselfe from the common araye, nor think that any thing is so greeuous as the corruption of our nature, which cannot bee stayed but by death. It S. Paule had set downe but one of the words, eyther offences or sinnes: by and by there woold haue bin answearing and replying. For some woold haue thought themselues too haue bin of the common aray. And other some would haue said, Uery wel, though there bee some synne in vs, though there bee some fault in vs, it doth not therfore folowe, that wee bee vtterly condemned and cursed of God: for wyl he vse suche rigour and extremitie ageinst vs? But S. Paule hath ioyned both the woordes toogither, too shew that there is nothing in our nature, but all wickednes and sinne: and at a woord, that there is not one drop of life too bee found in it. Therfore it is al one, as though he ment too aggrauate or make the thing heynous, which men on their part would make light. For if wee haue neuer so smal a portion of vertue, yea, or but a shadow of it: wee wyll needes exalt it aboue all the mountaines of the worlde. But if there bee any vices in vs, though they bee neuer so grosse and apparant, yit wee make but very light faultes of them. Therefore it stood S. Paule on hand too beate downe this fond presumptuousnesse of men, and too shew them that they bee wholly saped in sinne. For although he speake heere too the Ephesians, yit speaketh he generally too all men. And in good sooth, he expresseth it yit better, in saying, that vvee vvalked according too the trade of the vvorld: for the euyll lurketh vnespied, tyll it bewray it selfe by his fruites.