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…

Now then, the sum of the things aforesaid, is this. That whereas there is no salvation, no election, no favour, no blessing, no benefit to be had, hoped, or sought for at Gods hand, but only in and by our Lord Jesus Christ: it is showed for the comfort of the weaker sort, that in this spiritual battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil, those are not counted to be out of Christ, which being Baptized into him, and professing themselves to be Christians, do notwithstanding fall through simple ignorance and infirmity of nature, or are violently borne down, wounded, or carried away at times by the force of overmighty temptations: but either such as having their conscience seared or benumbed, do welter in sin without feeling of any remorse: or which feeling the sting of sin and hartbyting of the law, do nevertheless make such account of the filthy pleasures of the flesh, the vanities of the world, and the fulfilling of their own wicked wills, that they continue in sin wilfully and wittingly, or rather maliciously and presumptuously, even against the continual testimony and exclamation of their own consciences: or else which through a certain faintness of hart, and cowardly misbelief, by reason of overmuch minding of their own weakness, and of the horribleness of their sins without the remedies that God hath ordained for the same, do utterly castaway their armour and weapon, and either out of hand give over, and as it were betray themselves too the enemy of mankind without any resistance: or soon after forsake ⟨image 10⟩the field upon despair of victory, without returning any more into the battle, or without craving the help and ••ccour of their Captain Christ, as who would say, they looked […] get the upper hand, and to stand by their own strength at ••eir own appointment, and not at Gods appointment, ••rough his power and mercy in Christ.

Now then, the summe of the things aforesayd, is this. That wheras there is no saluation, no election, no fauour, no blessing, no benefyte to bee had, hoped, or sought for at Gods hand, but onely in and by our Lord Iesus Christ: it is shewed for the comfort of the weaker sort, that in this spirituall battell ageinst the world, the fleshe, and the diuell, those are not counted to be out of Christ, which beyng Baptized into him, and professing themselues to bee Christians, doo notwithstanding fall through simple ignorance and infirmitie of nature, or are violently borne downe, wounded, or caryed away at tymes by the force of ouermightie tēptations: but eyther such as hauing their conscience seared or benommed, doo welter in sinne without feeling of any remorse: or which feeling the sting of sinne and hartbyting of the lawe, doo neuerthelesse make such account of the filthie pleasures of the fleshe, the vanities of the world, and the fulfilling of their owne wicked willes, that they continew in sinne wilfully and wittingly, or rather maliciously and presumptuously, euen ageinst the continuall testimonie and exclamation of their owne consciences: or else which through a cerrein feintnesse of hart, and cowardly misbeleefe, by reason of ouermuch mynding of their owne weaknesse, and of the horriblenesse of their sinnes without the remedyes that God hath ordeyned for the same, doo vtterly castaway their armour and weapon, and eyther out of hand giue ouer, and as it were betray themselues too the enemie of mankynd without any resistence: or soone after forsake