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…

By the way we must mark, that under the word Nature, Saint Paul showeth, not only that we be sinners by custom, so as every of us thrusteth his fellow out of the way, and we be too much inclined too follow the evil, rather than the good: but also that there is a further matter in it, which is, that every of us bringeth sin with him even from his birth. Too eat and too drink are things that accompany us: but yet is sin more rooted in us, than all the things that belong too this life. Truly the heathen men will think it strange, that the young babes which are not able too discern between good and evil, nor have any discretion or will, should already be sinners and damned before God, according too S. Pauls saying, who calleth them the children of wrath: but yet must we needs yield our selves too condemnation whether we will or no. As soon as babes be able too make any sign, it is certain that they will show enough and too much, that they be froward and naughty, and that there is a secrete poison lurking in them▪ And that although they cast it not out at the first, yet they be as a brood of serpents. Sith it is so, let us understand that Saint Paul doth not without cause call us the children of wrath, as well as the Jews, not excepting the very infants out of the number, whom men term innocents, and take them so to be: For we must not regard our own opinion, nor the things that we see before our eyes, but we must give glory unto God, who is the competent judge thereof, although we find it incomprehensible. How ⟨image 85⟩soever the world go, we must always come back too that which is said in the one and fiftieth Psalm,¹ namely that we not only offend God daily in diverse manners: but also are loathsome too him beforehand, yea even before we have either done or thought any thing, because we were begotten in sin and cursedness. And by that word Children of wrath, S. Paul meaneth that we be the heirs of death, and that God must needs be our enemy, yea even as soon as we be conceived. Yet is not God cruel, neither hateth he the things that are of his own making. That is true, if we had such pureness in us as was in our forefather Adam, according too this saying, that all things which God made were good, God then should hate his own workmanship in us.

By the way wee must marke, that vnder the word Nature, Saynt Paule sheweth, not only that wee bee sinners by custome, so as euery of vs thrusteth his fellowe out of the way, and wee bee too much inclyned too followe the euill, rather than the good: but also that there is a further matter in it, which is, that euery of vs bringeth sinne with him euen from his birth. Too eate and too drinke are things that accompany vs: but yit is sinne more rooted in vs, than all the things that belong too this lyfe. Truely the heathen men will thinke it straunge, that the young babes which are not able too discerne betweene good and euill, nor haue any discrecion or will, should alreadie bee sinners and damned before God, according too S. Paules saying, who calleth them the children of wrath: but yit must wee needes yeelde our selues too condemnation whether we wil or no. As soone as babes bee able too make any signe, it is certeyne that they will shewe inough and too much, that they bee froward and naughtie, and that there is a secrete poyson lurking in them And that although they cast it not out at the first, yit they bee as a broode of serpentes. Sith it is so, let vs vnderstand that Saint Paule dooth not without cause call vs the children of wrath, as well as the Iewes, not excepting the very infantes out of the number, whom men terme innocents, and take them so to bee: For wee must not regarde our owne opinion, nor the things that wee see before our eyes, but wee must giue glory vntoo God, who is the competeent iudge thereof, although wee finde it incomprehensible. How