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…

IT is a wonderful thing that men having so many means too come unto God, labour too go from him as much as is possible, and every straw makes them too turn head: and yet notwithstanding think themselves too have a very reasonable excuse, if they can say, I was letted by this and that (which shall be nothing at all,) but the least occasion that can be, will serve, because their seeking already is too shrink away from God. And this is too common now adays. For they that are desirous too justify themselves, because they reject the doctrine of the Gospel, will always find fault with the causes of offences. O say thy, this troubleth me, this maketh me too mislike the doctrine of the Gospel, this maketh me too forsake it utterly. All that ever they can allege shall be but trifles, but yet had we need too labour so much the more, too overcome all the lets and stops which the devil endeavoureth too cast in our way, so as we may still keep on our trade and course. And that is the thing whereat S. Paul aimeth here, exhorting the Ephesians not too be thrust out of the way, but too hold on still truly and constantly in the faith of the Gospel, notwithstanding ⟨p. 131⟩that they might be offended too see him a prisoner, and as good as condemned already. Now it is certain, that Saint Pauls suffering in maintenance of the things that he had preached, was not too make them swerve from Gods pure truth: but contrariwise he protesteth, that it was too their glory, so as they might triumph aforehand, considering the invincible constancy that was given him. But (as I have said already) besides the thing that I have touched already, there is such a naughtiness rooted in our nature, that we be well apaid, if we can have any outward colour too shrink away from God, and we bear our selves on hand, that we be quite and clean discharged. Howbeit S. Paul spake not this for that one people, but he giveth here an instruction that ought too serve us at this day: which is, that although the most part of the world be mad at the Gospel, and fight as much as they can, too quench the remembrance of our Lord Jesus Christ, and although the faithful be persecuted, defamed and tormented:

IT is a woonderfull thing that men hauing so many meanes too come vntoo God, labour too go from him as much as is possible, and euery strawe makes them too turne head: and yit notwithstanding think themselues too haue a very reasonable excuce, if they can say, I was letted by this and that (which shalbee nothing at all,) but the least occasion that can bee, wyll serue, bycause their seeking alreadye is too shrinke away from God. And this is too common now adayes. For they that are desyrous too iustifye themselues, bycause they reiect the doctrine of the Gospell, will alwayes fynde fault with the causes of offences. O say thy, this trubbleth mee, this maketh mee too mislyke the doctrine of the Gospell, this maketh mee too forsake it vtterly. All that euer they can alledge shalbee but tryfles, but yit had wee neede too labour so much the more, too ouercome all the lettes and stoppes which the diuell indeuoreth too cast in our way, so as wee may still keepe on our trade and course. And that is the thing whereat S. Paule ameth heere, exhorting the Ephesians not too bee thrust out of the way, but too holde on still truely and constantly in the fayth of the Gospell, notwithstanding