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…

For the Papists are driven too confess, that without Gods help they can do nothing, and that they be too weak too withstand Satan, if they be not strengthened by the holy Ghost. They can find in their hearts too grant, that they cannot deserve aught at all, except God supply their wants, and also that they have need of the forgiveness of their sins. But yet for all that, they cannot abide too give over their freewill, but imagine verily that they can partly further themselves. Thereupon they are always building of some desert, and although (they grant that) Gods grace prevent them at the first, yet they always mingle therewith some endeavour and good will of their own, and when they flee unto God for release of their sins, they bring him their own satisfactions for the same. And so ye see, that the Papists will not in any wise freely and wholly yield and give over unto God the praise of their salvation, but keep back some part of it, commonly the one half or more, too themselves. But S. Paul passeth further here, & showeth that we do wrongfully always defraud & bereave God of his glory, till we have forgotten all the false opinions wherewith the world deceiveth it self. Therefore the only way for us too glorify God, is too acknowledge that we be nothing of our selves. And so, humility or lowliness is not a feigning or false pretence, as many suppose, which think themselves too have contented God by saying in one word, that they be wretched sinners, and as weak as is possible: but we must be fully resolved, that all that ever men imagine in their own brains concerning deserts, freewill, preparation, help, or satisfaction, is every whit but leasing & trumpery of Satan. When we once know this, then will we submit our selves as we ought to do, & then shall God keep his estate, as he deserveth, & we also shall yield him such honour as is dew to him. But this cannot be done (as I said) unless all that ever men conceive & imagine concerning good works, wherewith too deserve well at Gods hand, be utterly razed out.

For the Papists are driuen too confesse, that without Gods helpe they can doo nothing, and that they bee too weake too withstand Satan, if they bee not strengthened by the holy Ghost. They can fynd in their hartes too graunt, that they cannot deserue aught at all, except God supply their wantes, and also that they haue neede of the forgiuenesse of their sinnes. But yit for all that, they cannot abyde too giue ouer their freewill, but imagin verily that they can partly further themselues. Theruppon they are alwayes buylding of some desert, and although (they graunt that) Gods grace preuent them at the first, yit they alwayes mingle therwith some indeuer and good will of their owne, and when they flee vntoo God for release of their sinnes, they bring him their owne satisfactions for the same. And so yee see, that the Papistes will not in any wise freely and wholly yeeld and gyue ouer vntoo God the prayse of their saluation, but keepe backe some part of it, commonly the one halfe or more, too themselues. But S. Paule passeth further here, & sheweth that we doo wrongfully alwayes defraud & bereue God of his glory, till wee haue forgotten all the false opinions wherwith the world deceyueth it selfe. Therefore the onely way for vs too glorifye God, is too acknowledge that wee bee nothing of our selues. And so, humilitie or lowelynesse is not a feyning or false pretence, as many suppoze, which thinke themselues too haue contented God by saying in one woord, that they bee wretched sinners, and as weake as is possible: but wee must bee fully resolued, that all that euer men imagin in their owne braynes concerning desertes, freewill, preparation, helpe, or satisfaction, is euery whit but leazing & trumperie of Satan. When we once know this, then will we submit our selues as we ought to doo, & then shall God keepe his estate, as he deserueth, & we also shall yeeld him such honour as is dew to him. But this cannot be done (as I sayd) vnlesse all that euer men conceiue & imagin concerning good workes, wherewith too deserue well at Gods hand, bee vtterly razed out.