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…

Likewise now adays, if the Gospel were preached purely through the whole world, & faith given indifferently too all men, so as there were none but he should be touched immediately with the holy Ghost, and all of us were alike: it would seem to be as the course of nature. And like as meat and drink are common to all men, so it would seem that we had this of our own natural motion, and that it were not a special grace of God. But when we see so many Countries hungerstarued, so as there raineth not one drop of good doctrine upon them, but rather the wretched people are fed with Lies and trumperies of Satan: and that on the other side God enlighteneth us here, and watereth us with his word: whereof cometh that, but of the great love whereof S. Paul speaketh here? Again, many men have their ears beaten with the Gospel, and yet it is apparent too mens eyes, that they become hard hearted by it, and wax worse and worse. For it is certain that a man shall not see so horrible monsters in the papacy, as where the Gospel is preached and professed, for they will say they be reformed, and yet they seem too be devils incarnate: and we need not too go far to see such sights. So then, let us mark here, that we must not surmise that any of us hath aught wherewith too please God, more than his fellows, nor presume too make any account of our selves: but that we must always repair too the fountain that cannot be drained dry, and not go too the pits that are full of holes and can hold no water, or rather which have nothing but s•id & filth in them, (for all the gloriousness and bravery of men is no better) but ⟨p. 70⟩draw of the said love of our God, & confess that God must not be persuaded or moved by other folks, but only that it pleased him too love us freely, by receiving us unto him, and by enlightening us with his holy spirit in the faith of the Gospel. And so ye see what Saint Paul meant too note here.

Lykewyse nowe adayes, if the Gospell were preached purely throughe the whole world, & fayth giuen indifferently too all men, soo as there were none but he should be touched immediatly with the holy Ghost, and all of vs were alyke: it woold seeme to be as the course of nature. And lyke as meat and drinke are common to all men, so it woold seeme that wee had this of our owne naturall motion, and that it were not a speciall grace of God. But when wee see so manie Countries hungerstarued, so as there rayneth not one drop of good doctrine vppon them, but rather the wretched people are fed with Lyes and trumperies of Satan: and that on the other syde God inlyghteneth vs heere, and watereth vs with his woord: whereof commeth that, but of the great loue whereof S. Paule speaketh heere? Agein, many men haue their eares beaten with the Gospell, and yit it is apparant too mennes eyes, that they become hard harted by it, and waxe woorse and woorse. For it is certeine that a man shall not see so horrible monsters in the papacie, as where the Gospell is preached and professed, for they will say they bee reformed, and yit they seeme too bee diuells incarnate: and wee neede not too go farre to see such syghtes. So then, let vs marke heere, that wee must not surmyze that any of vs hath aught wherwith too please God, more than his felowes, nor presume too make any account of our selues: but that we must alwayes repayre too the fountaine that annot bee drayned dry, and not go too the pits that are full of holes and can holde no water, or rather which haue nothing but sid & filth in them, (for all the gloriousnesse and brauerie of men is no better) but