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 on the other side, to the end that men (who are always subtle witted, in seeking some shifts and starting holes or other: should not excuse themselves by being under the Tyranny of the devil, nor allege that the same ought not too be laid too their charge: Saint Paul showeth that the said bondage ceaseth not too be wilful. I showed you this morning, that notwithstanding all our free choice, and notwithstanding our reason and will, yet we be as it were fettered too Satan's service, so as we can do nothing but all naughtiness, neither should we be any better by nature, than the arrantest thieves in the world, if God had not pitied us, accordingly as Saint Paul setteth forth all other men unto us as a looking glass, yea & even such as despise God and all order, and are driven by Satan into all outrage: saying, that we should be like them, if God had not bin merciful too us. But now there are many which grudge against God, and which go too law with him, saying: If free will be so defaced, what shall become of us? If men were able too give themselves unto goodness, and yet notwithstanding made none account of it, but gave themselves too evil: surely it were good right and reason, that they should be held for guilty. But if they cannot but do evil: why should God condemn them? At leastwise they ought too be borne withal, seeing it is apparent that they be held under Satan's dominion, even from their mothers womb. Lo what many men allege, in hope to wash their hands. Yea, and they be not contented too justify themselves by vain shifts, but they do also rail against God, as though he were the cause of their damnation. But S. Paul to prevent such s•aunders, sayeth, that they which are under the bondage of Satan and of sin, cease not for all that too be condemned by good right. For they be not constrained thereunto by force: they be subject in deed, but that is with their own good will. And that is the cause why he sayeth, that even such as are brought back again to our Lord Jesus Christ, have walked in the lusts of the flesh: that is too say, that before God had changed them, and brought them too his obedience by his holy spirit, they walked in their own wicked lusts. True it is that men will ⟨image 87⟩grant their nature too be sinful, but yet they say, it sufficeth that the will be otherwise.

Now on the other side, to the end that men (who are alwayes suttle witted, in seeking some shifts and starting holes or other: should not excuze themselues by being vnder the Tyrannie of the diuell, nor alledge that the same ought not too bee layde too their charge: Saint Paule sheweth that the sayd bondage ceasseth not too bee wilfull. I shewed you this morning, that notwithstanding all our free choyze, and notwithstanding our reason and will, yit we be as it were fettered too Satans seruice, so as wee can doo nothing but all naughtinesse, nother should wee bee any better by nature, than the arrantest theues in the world, if God had not pitied vs, accordingly as Saint Paule setteth forth al other men vntoo vs as a looking glasse, yea & euen such as despyze God and all order, and are driuen by Satan intoo all outrage: saying, that wee should bee lyke them, if God had not bin mercifull too vs. But now there are many which grudge ageinst God, and which go too lawe with him, saying: If free will bee so defaced, what shall become of vs? If men were able too giue themselues vnto goodnesse, and yit notwithstanding made none account of it, but gaue themselues too euill: surely it were good right and reason, that they should bee hild for giltie. But if they cannot but doo euill: why should God condemne them? At leastwise they ought too bee borne withall, seing it is apparant that they bee hild vnder Satans dominion, euen from their mothers wombe. Loe what many men alledge, in hope to washe their handes. Yea, and they bee not contented too iustifie themselues by vayne shifts, but they doo also rayle ageinst God, as though he were the cause of their damnation. But S. Paul to preuent such saunders, sayeth, that they which are vnder the bondage of Satan and of sinne, ceasse not for all that too be condemned by good right. For they be not constreyned theruntoo by force: they bee subiect in deede, but that is with their owne good will. And that is the cause why he sayeth, that euen such as are brought backe agein to our Lord Iesus Christ, haue walked in the lustes of the fleshe: that is too say, that before God had chaunged them, and brought them too his obedience by his holy spirit, they walked in their owne wicked lusts. True it is that men will