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…

but in the mean while, too be able too yield a reason of their faith, is no point of their skill, but they harden themselves in their ignorance, yea and covet too be as little babes still. Othersome can well enough skill too yield an account, in such wise as a man would deem there were some good root of faith in them: and yet for all that, if there come but one blast of wind, ye shall see them in such perplexity, that they wot not any more in what God they believe. For if there rise up any heresies or stumbling blocks, the most part of those that spake wonders afore, are so wyndshaken as too say, How now? There were never such opinions heard of: and what meaneth this? Which may a man hold for the best? But in so doing they show well enough, (as I said afore) that they never strained themselves, ne took any great pain too go forward, that they might no more be so wavering.

but in the meane whyle, too bee able too yeelde a reason of theyr fayth, is no poynt of their skill, but they harden themselues in their ignorance, yea and couet too bee as lyttle babes styll. Othersome can well ynough skill too yeeld an account, in such wyse as a man woulde deeme there were some good roote of fayth in them: and yit for all that, if there come but one blast of wynd, yee shall see them in such perplexitie, that they wote not any more in what God they beleeue. For if there ryse vp any heresyes or stumbling blockes, the most part of those that spake woonders afore, are so wyndshaken as too saye, How now? There were neuer such opinions heard of: and what meaneth this? Which may a man holde for the best? But in so dooing they shewe well ynough, (as I sayd afore) that they neuer streyned themselues, ne tooke any great payne too go forwarde, that they myght no more bee so wauering.

Furthermore, besides this likening of men unto babes, Saint Paul setteth down yet other similitudes, saying, that such folks are as reeds that are shaken with every wind, or as a boat that floateth upon the waves of the sea, or of some Lake. In deed this belongeth not too little babes: but Saint Pauls intent was also too show how wretched their state is, which are not throughly grounded in the Gospel. For is there any greater wretchedness than too be floating, and as it were wavering at every wind, and too have no steadiness at all in the matters that concern our salvation? If we were threatened every minute of an hour, where through we were so scared, that we were in continual fearfulness