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…

or if he had an hundred deaths in his hand, and could make them enter without feeling how: I pray you were not such an enemy much more too be feared, than such as come furnished with great force, and make a great noise? Yes surely. Now S. Paul telleth us, that the devil is such a one: for he is a spirit, ⟨p. 65⟩sayeth he. So then, let us not to be so fleshly as we have bin wont too be, neither let us judge according too our own rude and fond fancy, when the said spiritual enemy is spoken of: But let us assure our selves, that he is able too do us much more mischief without all comparison, then if we could see how he came towards us, and how he entered into us. So then forasmuch as he is a spirit, let us be so much the more afraid of him. And too the intent the faithful should be the better disposed too come too this foresaid point, that is too say, too know their own confusion, till God have provided for it: S. Paul addeth yet one confirmation more of his saying. For as soon as we have received the faith, and be enlightened by Gods holy spirit: if we have any desire too do well, we shall by and by endeavour too serve our God. And it will seem that that were enough. But if a faithful man look into himself, he shall find enough to mislike and too sigh and groan for: according as I have told you before, that even S. Paul confesseth himself too have bin unhappy,¹ and crieth out, who shall set me free from this prison of death? The faithful then shall always find enough in themselves wherefore too morn before God. Yet notwithstanding forasmuch as God hath put some goodness, some well meaning, and some good intent into us: the same doth half cover the lewdness of our nature, so as we know not a long time after that it were requisite, how wretched our state is, so long as we think but upon our selves, I say, upon our selves, such as we be after that God hath partly reformed us by his holy spirit. That is the cause why S. Paul sendeth us too behold what the unbelievers are. If we look upon the world, we shall see some given too covetousness, and some too pilling and polling, and not only the little thieves that are whipped and hanged: even such as are robbers, I say, not in woods and forests, but in houses, in markets, and in places of Justice.

or if he had an hundreth deathes in his hand, and could make them enter without feeling how: I pray you were not such an enemy much more too bee feared, than such as come furnished with great force, and make a great noize? Yis surely. Now S. Paule telleth vs, that the diuell is such a one: for he is a spirite,