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…

And the cause why men cannot humble themselves before God as were requisite, is that they flatter themselves till they be convicted, and be compelled […] stoop and too hold down their heads spit of their teethe. ⟨image 79⟩For we see what hypocrisy is in us, insomuch that we would bear our selves in hand that black were white, and never find our selves faulty, so long as our misdeeds could not be laid open too our faces, nor any man stop our mouths, by witnessing them too our heads. Too have many wicked thoughts, or too be tempted too do this or that evil, we think it no sin at all. Too be short, S. Paul hath justly set down, that the Ephesians walked in their sins: too the intent too show, that he speaketh not of a thing which ought too be unknown too them. For in beholding their own lives, and in beholding what they had bin, and what trace they had followed: they should be driven too confess that they were utterly forlorn & cursed afore God. Therefore when soever our hypocrisy hindereth us from submitting our selves unto God, and from beating of our selves down• by acknowledging of our since: let us learn too look into our life. Truly, although we perceived a whole million of faults which we have committed: yet is it nothing in comparison of that which God knoweth. Yet notwithstanding too waken us the better, that we may not be deceived by our own self soothing, as we have bin wont too be: let us always judge of the root by the fruits of it. Seeing then that we be guilty of offending God so many ways, let us conclude thereupon, that there is nothing but frowardness in our nature. And too show the better that he speaketh not here of any one sort of men, but of all mankind: S. Paul addeth, that it was according too the trade of the world. The word that he useth here, betokeneth the course of time. As if he should say, Even as we see the Sun doth daily rise and go down, and as we see Winter and Summer follow one another: so is it an ordinary custom, yea and even the nature of man too be utterly froward, spiteful, and rebellious against God, and there is nothing in him but all manner of lewdness and corruption. It is not for men too say, •ush, evil custom hath gotten the upper hand: and again, this serveth for some men, but all do not so:

And the cause why men cannot humble themselues before God as were requisite, is that they flatter themselues till they bee conuicted, and bee compelled stoope and too hold downe their heades spyt of their teethe.